Participants return to Mid-Ohio race where year-long challenge started, share their success stories and vow to continue their journeys.
It was back to the beginning for the USA 250 Challenge.
Shortly after the challenge was announced last July, a group of American Legion Family members kicked off the year-long event at one of the holiday weekend’s busiest venues: the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington ahead of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’s Honda INDY 200.
On July 2, many of the original group returned for the 2.2-mile track walk to promote the challenge during the Mid-Ohio race weekend. More than 20 American Legion Family members joined race teams and others on the walk this year.
Among those was Navy veteran Brad Beatty, a member of American Legion Post 764 in Grove City, who talked about the impact of the USA 250 Challenge. The challenge encouraged participants to achieve goals in one or more of three categories related to fitness, wellness and community service.
Beatty now walks 3 miles daily with his wife, experiences an improved mental wellness and is more active in community service projects for his post.
“I started the challenge last year with my wife, and we’ve both lost more than 20 pounds,” said Beatty, among those who participated in both walks. “It’s also helped our mental wellness. She’s been reading about ‘change your brain, change your pain.’ It’s been a really great year in the three challenge areas. I’m really glad to come back to this walk and finish a great year.”
Beatty didn’t pause when asked if he would continue beyond July 4.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I always want to be a better person and I don’t want to melt away. I want to be purposeful in my life.”
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Department of Ohio First Vice Commander Gary Cox Jr. also participated in the first and second walks.
“Here in Ohio we like to call it the heart of it all,” he explained. “Going on the 2.2-mile track to get this thing kicked off last year and to be able to bring it back to the heart of Ohio and being able to do that 2.2-mile walk again is awesome. Couldn't ask for a better day.”
Cox, who served in the Marines from 2002 to 2010, drew a comparison to last year’s 250th anniversary of his service branch with the nation’s anniversary in 2026.
“We had our 250th birthday last year; now America's having its 250th,” said Cox, a member of Post 584 in Marion. “So being able to celebrate that, being able to get The American Legion in the forefront like we always are. Being able to get out there and meet veterans, bring in the younger generation is special. Why not us? Let’s start this 250. Let's get the veterans involved. Let's get the veterans what they need and let's continue to do this for the next 250 years like we've been doing.”
Clayton Ethington, who was medically retired from the Navy just a week earlier, represents the younger generation. Ethington, a service officer at Post 202 in Medina, has been home since September and missed the camaraderie of his fellow servicemembers.
“I love the camaraderie,” he said of joining the Legion. “If you are missing the camaraderie of the service, The American Legion is where it’s at. There are many opportunities of what you can do there.”
As a post service officer, “I help veterans get their benefits, a completely free service to any veteran. It means a lot. It fills my heart being able to help people. It means the world to me to help other people.”
The American Legion’s presence at the INDYCAR race didn’t end with the USA Challenge Walk. Throughout the weekend, the Legion’s activation display also served as a venue for fans to meet and receive autographs from drivers, learn about the Be the One mission, and seek out assistance.
For example, by noon Friday, at least seven veterans had already approached Ohio Department Adjutant John “J.D.” Robinson about seeking help with their benefits as they experience changes going back to the civilian world.
“I am referring them to our service officers at their local level,” he said. “Most want to get their benefits started. Most of the vets are from the Iraq war, early Afghanistan, and they are needing a little extra help so they sought out The American Legion. This says to me that our mission is getting out to the public. The veteran community knows we have a great service record for veterans.”
- USA250 Challenge