GILEAD — Three years ago, Army veteran Mike Ehredt of Driggs, Idaho, awakened one morning and decided to run across the nation from Oregon to Maine.

To honor and remember the U.S. soldiers and Marines who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq since 2003, Ehredt decided to place small American flags with names and information on yellow ribbons at each of the 4,751 miles of the journey.

The Illinois native began the “Project America Run – One Life. One Flag. One Mile” endeavor on May 1, 2010, from the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. He plans to finish in mid-October in Rockland.

“I just wanted to do a personal tribute to those from Iraq,” Ehredt said Thursday. “I didn’t know any of them.” Ehredt crossed the state border into Gilead, where he received a hero’s welcome from Color Guards with American Legion posts 68 in Locke Mills and 801 in Bethel, among other veterans and local officials.

Ehredt, 49, served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1979 to 1983. He averages 30 miles a day and has 506 miles remaining to complete his journey. Thursday’s run began in Gorham, N.H., and would end 33 miles away in Newry.

“It’s like a 5K now, because I’m 6 miles out of Bethel,” Ehredt said. He has worn out 18 pairs of running shoes in the daily runs behind his jogging stroller, in which he carries flags, supplies, communications and emergency gear.

“I meet different people every day, see different scenery every day and it’s a different name every mile, so it’s all been great,” he said. “I don’t dwell on the dead — the lost — but more on the beauty around the flags that I get to see.”

Ehredt stands at attention and gives a silent salute after placing each soldier’s flag, acknowledging their sacrifice, before running toward the next site to repeat the ceremony.

For James and Sandra Troutt of Sherman, Ehredt’s mission is especially poignant. Their grandson is among those recognized by Ehredt.

“I’m here because of Mike,” James Troutt said minutes prior to Ehredt’s arrival in Gilead. “On 4-6-06, I lost my grandson in Iraq — Spc. Dustin James Harris of the 177th Second Striker Brigade from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. I’m here for support.”

“I’m sure he’s going to have a lot of support here, and anything we can do to help our fallen heroes, I’m here for,” Troutt said.

His wife agreed.

“I’ve done over 125 Comfort Quilts for the families of the fallen,” Sandra Troutt said. “I think he’s doing a wonderful thing and my heart goes out to him. More should be done for our fallen heroes because they sacrificed so much for us.”

Patriot Guard motorcyclist John O’Leary of Norway was also on hand for Ehredt’s arrival.

“He’s bringing awareness to everybody that our men and women are still dying over there and I’m here not to forget that and to support that,” O’Leary said.

Afghanistan war combat veteran Rep. Jarrod S. Crockett, R-Bethel, said he came to meet and support Ehredt on behalf of the Maine Legislature, Sen. Olympia Snowe and himself.

“It’s quite an accomplishment — 4,500 miles,” Crockett said. “With Veterans Day coming right around the corner, it’s timely, and he hit the most rugged part of the trip at the most rugged time of the year.”

Jeri Greenwell of Bethel said Martin and Wendy Smith of Bethel also wanted to thank Ehredt, but they couldn’t make it.

Greenwell said the Smiths’ son, Army Pvt. Tyler Jacob Smith died on March 21, 2008, at the age of 22 from wounds suffered at Forward Operating Base Falcon near Baghdad, which received indirect fire. Smith was a 2004 graduate of Telstar High School in Bethel.

Ehredt said Thursday morning’s reception in Maine stood out for him.

“I can go through some states and not see a face and never see anyone,” he said. “Never see a paper or TV reporter, which is OK, because I’m not an attention guy.”

He resumed his run with an escort from Oxford County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dane Tripp, Sgt. Tim Holland, O’Leary and Bob Richardson of American Legion Post 24 in Rumford and the American Legion Riders.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com