Military Police of the Missouri National Guard run for a cause

By Nancy K. Lane
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - At the front gate of the Missouri National Guard's Ike Skelton Training Site, 65 members of local law enforcement agencies gathered to begin the central Missouri leg of the Special Olympics Torch Run.

With an F-15 as the backdrop, Col. Linda Bode, vice chief of staff for the Missouri National Guard, addressed the runners.

"The Torch Run is a special opportunity to highlight our military police and law enforcement, while at the same time, providing support to such a worthwhile organization as the Special Olympics," said Bode.

Runners included members of the Department of Public Safety, Missouri Highway Patrol, Algoa Correctional Center, Probation and Parole Center office, Jefferson City Police Department, Columbia Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Department, Osage Beach Police Department, Lincoln University Security and the Missouri National Guard.

Steve Harris and Derek Sandbothe, both of Jefferson City, were Olympians who ran with the officers. Harris left the front gate proudly holding the torch. This is the fourth time Sandbothe has participated in the Torch Run while Harris was running for the second time.

Those Missouri National members participating in the Torch Run included military police Maj. Stephan Baker, 70th Troop Command, Jefferson Barracks; Sgt. Justin Lawzano, 175th Military Police Battalion, Columbia; and Staff Sgt. Robert McKim, Detachment 2, 1137th Military Police Company, Doniphan.

During a ceremony on the state capitol grounds at the conclusion of the run, Sgt. Randy Werner, Region 5 Law Enforcement Torch Run Coordinator announced that the Jefferson City leg of the Torch Run has been named for a Special Olympic Missouri athlete Gordon Barnes, formerly of Jefferson City. Barnes passed away about one month ago.

"Gordon was instrumental in inspiring everyone he met," said Susan Stegeman, chief development officer, Special Olympics Missouri. "He regularly attended Torch Runs and Torch Run fundraising events. He will be missed.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard

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For more information about this release, please contact Nancy K. Lane at 573-638-9846 or e-mail at nancy.k.lane@us.army.mil