Photo by Charmain Z. Brackett Friends, Family and Soldiers walked the track at the Columbia County Memorial Gardens Oct. 24 as part of the Walk to Baghdad and Back. Even though her Soldier isn’t part of the 35th Signal Brigade, Jessica Paschal wanted to show her support.

“He’s with the 202nd,” said Paschal, who has been dating Staff Sgt. Kenneth Causey for about five months. He recently deployed to Afghanistan.

Despite the drizzle, Paschal went to the Memorial Gardens behind the Columbia County Library Oct. 24 to walk around the track and log miles for the Walk to Baghdad and Back.

The Oct. 24 event was the second community-wide event designed to get people moving and remembering those who are currently deployed. Prior to this event, 1,415 miles had been logged. The goal is to walk, run or move 15 minutes to equate to 13,235 miles.

“People are doing good,” said Bernadette White, one of the organizers. “They’ve registered on the website and are walking, running, swimming, biking and mopping.”

Some of the children attending wore costumes. Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi had a light saber duel on the hill near the amphitheater prior to the start of the walk.

Cindy Hollenbeck wore her bright orange T-shirt underneath her pink rain coat as she walked in honor of her husband, Chap. Jon Hollenbeck, who is deployed with the unit, and the other Soldiers.

She sent him photos of the first walk.

“He loves it when I send pictures with the orange. Everything is so colorless over there,” she said.

White said events will be held monthly alternating between Columbia and Richmond Counties. The next one will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at Augusta’s Riverwalk.