Sep 12, 2008 3 min read

Ronzio of Holbrook in Greene County set out on a trek in 2006 to walk one mile for every American service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He carries a flag to help build support for military personnel. The flag he presented to Gladman at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8543 marked the 3,000th mile of his journey.

Gladman of McClellandtown is a master sergeant with 24 years of service in the Army Reserves.

The two have been friends for years, ever since they worked together at Mario’s in McClellandtown. Gladman worked at the bar and Ronzio was a disc jockey.

“I’m honored to accept this flag from my friend Terry,” Gladman said.

He said he was surprised when Ronzio called him and said he wanted to give him the flag.

“I was sitting down and I still fell down,” said Gladman.

He said he his unit, the 312th Regiment based in Oakdale, spent six months in Iraq in 2004 advising the Iraqi army.

Ronzio said he was the DJ for Gladman’s homecoming party at Mario’s.

“He’s a big inspiration for me. He’s a great pillar of our community,” Ronzio said. “Buster, I’m so honored to give you this. Thank you for your service.”

Leonard Malenosky, the post’s senior vice commander, and Carl Stockton, the junior vice commander, also took part in the brief ceremony at the post’s war memorial.

They thanked Gladman for his service and Ronzio for supporting veterans.

Ronzio said veterans are the country’s greatest patriots and Gladman helped him realize that service members serving abroad need the support of people back home.

“The people that fight for us need our support,” Ronzio said.

In exchange for the flag, Gladman gave Ronzio a coin that commemorates his unit.

“It’s a little worn, but it’s yours,” Gladman said.

Ronzio said he would keep the coin, along with the military unit arm patches and other memorabilia soldiers and veterans gave him, in the backpack he carries when he walks.

More than 4,000 U.S. military personnel have been killed in five years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ronzio divides his journey into 500-mile segments. He carries a different American flag during each leg and presents each flag to a local soldier or military unit.

His patriotic walks got the attention of the Unity Party, which asked him to run against U.S. Rep. John Murtha, the longest serving House member, for the 12th Congressional District seat.

He actually gave Gladman two flags and both were special.

He took the American flag with him on a trip last month to Norway to visit his girlfriend and brought back a miniature Norwegian flag. He said he carried the American flag on a 12-mile hike in the Forborbs Mountains outside of Frosta.

Members of Ronzio’s and Gladman’s families attended the ceremony.

“I’m just so proud of him for what he’s done,” said Ronzio’s father, Terry Ronzio, an Army veteran. “We can’t forget about these soldiers putting their lives on the line. No one really appreciates them.”

Gladman said his son, who enlisted in the regular Army and just completed basic training, is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the military.