He says he never thought that at the age of 50 he would be running across the state of Michigan hoisting a flag the entire way…yet he did it. Now…he’s doing it again and this time his journey is slated to end in St. Joseph’s Lake Bluff Park at the site of the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial on Lake Boulevard.
Kent County Reserve Deputy Matt Garbarino will hit the road in Detroit on June 7th and make his way across the southern tier of Michigan with plans to conclude the run on June 10th, sometime between 4 and 5pm if all goes according to plan, at the monument to fallen heroes across from the Krasl Art Center in St. Joe.
Garbarino says he is continuing his mission to honor fallen officers even after raising thousands of dollars last summer when he traversed the state from Pontiac to the Lake Michigan shore community of West Olive, north of Holland.
He chose the new route this year, he says, “to honor many of the friends I made along the way.”
Garbarino, from Byron Center, recently told TV reporters in his home county in Grand Rapids, “This year’s really about a similar journey as last year,” adding that it’s “The chance to continue the message of raising awareness for fallen police officers.”
The flag he carried on the journey last year is the iconic thin blue line police flag familiar to most folks. That flag is covered with the names and “End of Watch” dates of fallen officers from all across Michigan, signed by the officer’s families that he met along his 160 mile route a year ago.
He began preparing for this year’s run 7-months ago in late October when he established a new GoFundMe account to once again raise dollars which he in turn donates to the families that are left behind when a fallen officer dies in the line of duty. That effort a year ago raised more than $8,600. At the time of this writing, a little over a week before he starts this year’s journey, the campaign has raised just under $1,900 towards a goal of $5-thousand.
As Garbarino told Fox 17 Reporters, “Really the biggest goal for me is to have the engagement with the community, to raise awareness about ‘what does the thin blue line flag represent, what does law enforcement represent?’” He added, “That these are moms, dads, brothers and sisters. These are people in our community, they are not strangers, they are people that are there, people that are invested in our community.”
When the Run Across Michigan finishes at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial on Lake Boulevard in St. Joe, the closing ceremony will feature the Berrien County Honor guard, and a performance of the National Anthem followed by comments from St. Joseph Mayor Mike Garey, Berrien County Judge Gordon Hosbein, Prosecutor Mike Sepic, and Garbarino himself followed by a closing prayer from Berrien County Chaplain Wayne Sherier. Supporters are encouraged to congregate at Silver Beach Pizza below the bluff following the end of run ceremonies.
Garbarino’s mission site tells a bit more about him, in his own words, as he tells us, “I am a volunteer, reserve deputy with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. I work full time in marketing, am a father of an amazing 16 year old boy, and am an avid runner, triathlete, and fitness enthusiast. I am also passionate about making a positive impact in the community I live and strive to inspire others to do the same. Run Across Michigan allows me to combine two passions: Running and Law Enforcement. I welcome your support for this cause to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty and those actively serving. Please donate to MI-COPS (Michigan Concerns Of Police Survivors) a non-profit charity that offers resources for those families who have lost someone in law enforcement.”
Here is the link to the GoFundMe page for Run Across Michigan:
