93-year-old man runs from one side of U.S. to the other

ST. SIMON’S ISLAND, Georgia — After two years and 10 months, cross-country runner Ernie Andrus has made it across the United States — at the age of 93.

The Second World War veteran dipped his toes in the Atlantic Ocean Saturday, ending a run that started in San Diego.

Andrus was welcomed by hundreds of people, including family members and friends who have joined him at different parts along his journey.

He started his trek on Oct. 7, 2013, on the sands of San Diego, weaving his way through the southern U.S. until he reached St. Simon’s Island in Georgia.

“Oh, it’s great,” Andrus told The Brunswick News after finishing the run. “But I wish it wasn’t over.”

People travelled from as far away as Arizona and New York to be there at the end of his journey. A marching band welcomed him.

John and Michelle Crosby met Andrus when he ran through Madisonville, Louisiana, last year and went on to accompany him on 15 legs of his journey. Along the way, they helped him by arranging for police escorts.

Coun. John Williams had met Andrus when he ran through his district in Mobile, Alabama. “It didn’t take long after his arrival to know we had a special person in our city,” Williams said.

Andrus, who turned 93 on Friday, was running to raise money to return a Second World War-era ship in Indiana to Normandy, France, for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing.

He had been a medic on a similar ship during the war.