'Warrior Walk' set to salute vets

LAKELAND - A Lakeland woman has come up with a way to honor the men and women who have died in the War on Terror.

"I said it's time to do something for the community other than Veteran's Days, other than Memorial Day, the typical holidays that everyone supports," Melissa Sanchez says. "I just thought it would be important to do something different, something that would impact everyone at some level."

So Sanchez is organizing Tampa Bay's first "Warrior Walk." There is no fee to participate. The first 250 walkers will get a T-shirt with the name of someone who lost their life in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Sanchez's idea is touching other people's hearts as well.

Among the 500 people who have signed up so far is Julie Adams, who is taking care of the kids by herself until her deployed husband, Nate, comes home.

"We don't necessarily live with the pain and sadness of losing someone," Adams said, "but we know what it's like."

Sanchez doesn't want anyone to be held back, which is why the event is free; a way to honor the people who have helped keep our country that way.

The walk will take place around Lake Hollingsworth in downtown Lakeland on Saturday, July 31, 2010. It will start at 9 a.m.