2026 600 Miles of Remembrance

No. 1 car: Johnathan B. McCain
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant First Class
Date of birth: Aug. 18, 1973
Date of death: Nov. 13, 2011
Age: 38

McCain was killed in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, when his Stryker Brigade was on mounted patrol and an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated. He was recognized two Purple Heart awards -- one posthumously -- and four Bronze Stars. McCain was assigned to: 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. 

No. 2 car: Glen Jacob Whetten
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant First Class
Date of birth: March 19, 1978
Date of death: March 12, 2010
Age: 31

Enlisting in the Army after graduation, Whetten was among the first to enter Iraq with U.S. forces. He was assigned to: 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

No. 3 car: Matthew Paul Steyart
Military branch: United States Army, Corporal
Date of birth: June 4, 1984
Date of death: Nov. 22, 2005
Age: 21

Steyart was assigned to: 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment.

No. 4 car: Matthew Ammerman
Military branch: United States Army, Staff Sergeant
Date of birth: June 17, 1985
Date of death: Dec. 3, 2014
Age: 29

Ammerman joined the Army in 2004 and received over 10 medals and honors for his service. He was killed in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. Ammerman was assigned to: Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (SFODA 7312) A Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). 

No. 5 car: Ryan Christopher Malm
Military branch: United States Army, Staff Sergeant
Date of birth: Aug. 23, 1997
Date of death: Sept. 1, 2022
Age: 25

Malm joined the Army in 2015, first as a Forward Observer. He died in 2022 after being struck by an out-of-control vehicle in Cincinnati, Ohio, saving the lives of others. He was assigned to: 82nd Airborne Division.  

No. 6 car: William C. Hooks
Military branch: United States Navy, Fireman First Class
Date of birth: Aug. 6, 1920
Date of death: Feb. 27, 1944
Age: 23

Hooks was killed aboard the USS Grayback when it was attacked and sunk near Okinawa, Japan. He was assigned to: USS Grayback (SS-208). 

No. 7 car: Martin Anthiny Lugo Jr.
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant
Date of birth: April 22, 1986
Date of death: Aug. 19, 2010
Age: 24

Lugo was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for saving the lives of five fellow soldiers furing Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed in Puli Alam, Afghanistan. Lugo was assigned to: Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. 

No. 9 car: Frank Perrone
Military branch: United States Air Force, Staff Sergeant
Date of birth: Feb. 22, 1922
Date of death: Aug. 3, 1944
Age: 22

Perrone left school at Michigan State University to enlist at age 18 during World War II. In 1942, his plane was forced down over Turkey, where he was interned for more than 10 months before his release home. He was later killed in Austria when his plane was attacked by German fighter jets. Perrone was assigned to: 465th Bomber Group, Heavy, 782nd Bomber Squadron. 

No. 10 car: Christopher Horton
Military branch: United States Army, Specialist
Date of birth: Oct. 1, 1984
Date of death: Sept. 9, 2011
Age: 26

Horton was a sniper killed in action in Paktia Province, Afghanistan. He also served in the Oklahoma National Guard; between that and the military, he won countless awards and honors. Horton was assigned to: 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. 

No. 11 car: Michael H. Ollis
Military branch: United States Army, Staff Sergeant
Date of birth: Sept. 16, 1988
Date of death: Aug. 28, 2013
Age: 24

Ollis was killed during a complex enemy attack in Afghanistan. He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star, which was upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. He was also awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Ollis was assigned to: 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. 

No. 12: Thomas Lazzaro
Military branch: United States Army, Staff Sergeant
Date of birth: June 15, 1997
Date of death: Dec. 22, 2024
Age: 27

Lazzaro played quarterback at Central Michigan University, and after graduating, briefly took up a career in sales before enlisting. He was killed in a hunting accident at Eglin Air Force Base, shortly after getting engaged. Lazzaro was assigned to: 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). 

No. 16: Zainah "Caye" Creamer
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant
Date of birth: Feb. 23, 1982
Date of death: Jan. 12, 2011
Age: 28

Creamer served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, and was the first female dog handler to be killed in action. She was awarded more than a dozen medals and honors. Creamer was assigned to: 212th Military Police Detachment, Headquarters Battalion.

No. 17 car: Bobby Frank Limerick
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant
Date of birth: Oct. 28, 1950
Date of death: Aug. 25, 1971
Age: 20

Limerack was awarded over half a dozen honors, including two different Bronze Star Medals. He was assigned to: Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal). 

No. 19 car: Ace Wayne Tyler
Military branch: United States Air Force, First Lieutenant
Date of birth: Sept. 22, 1917
Date of death: May 29, 1944
Age: 26

Tyler, a B-24 Liberator pilot during WWll, was shot down and killed in a crash in Germany. He was assigned to: 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy, 576th Bomber Squadron. 

No. 20 car: Nicholas P. DiMona ll
Military branch: United States Army, Chief Warrant Officer 2
Date of birth: June 8, 1972
Date of death: June 22, 2004
Age: 32

DiMona II was killed in an aircraft training accident over Fort Stewart, Georgia. He recieved more than 10 awards and honors and inspired his son to join the Army. DiMona II was assigned to: 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment. 

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No. 20 car: Nicholas P. DiMona lll
Military branch: United States Army, Specialist
Date of birth: Feb. 19, 1999
Date of death: March 30, 2019
Age: 20

DiMona III followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Army. He was killed in a training accident outside of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He was assigned to: 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. 

No. 21 car: John Calvin Morgan
Military branch: United States Army, Private
Date of birth: June 22, 1911
Date of death: Nov. 29, 1944
Age: 33

Morgan died defending the United States on Leyte Island, Philippines. He was assigned to: 184th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry. 

No. 22 car: John R. Wheatley Jr.
Military branch: United States Marine Corps, Lance Corporal
Date of birth: Sept. 28, 1941
Date of death: April 10, 2026
Age: 84

Wheatley served during the Vietnam War and specialized in automotive mechanics at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He spent over a year deployed in Japan and spent an additional two years with the Marine Corps Reserve after completing active-duty service. He was assigned to: Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. 

No. 24 car: William Jacobsen
Military branch: United States Army, Captain
Date of birth: Oct. 12, 1973
Date of death: Dec. 21, 2004
Age: 31

Jacobsen was killed when his base dining facility was attacked in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to: 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team). 

No. 33 car: Matthew Donald Burns
Military branch: United States Navy, Special Warfare Operator First Class (SEAL)
Date of birth: Feb. 25, 1983
Date of death: Sept. 25, 2025
Age: 42

Burns enlisted into the military at 18, and was deployed to Iraq, the Philippines and Bahrain. He was assigned to: Naval Special Warfare Group 3 (NSWG-3). 

No. 34 car: Michael L. Wright
Military branch: United States Air Force, Chief Warrant Officer 4
Date of birth: Oct. 13, 1964
Date of death: June 1, 2006
Age: 41

Wright was killed in a helicopter crash during a training flight near Doerun, Georgia. He had an esteemed career in military aviation, earned more than a dozen medals and badges. He was assigned to: 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). 

No. 35 car: Christopher Chambers
Military branch: United States Navy, Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL)
Date of birth: Jan. 13, 1987
Date of death: Jan. 11, 2024
Age: 36

Chambers was killed in the line of duty in the Gulf of Aden, slipping between his combat craft and the vessel he was boarding. He and a fellow SEAL were declared lost at sea. Chambers was assigned to: SEAL Team 3.

No. 38 car: Willis Earl Norris
Military branch: United States Army, Private First Class
Date of birth: Jan. 1, 1910
Date of death: July 5, 1944
Age: 34

Norris went missing in France during World War II near Normandy Beach. He was assigned to: 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division.

No. 41 car: Ralph Earle Hines
Military branch: United States Marine Corps, Captain
Date of birth: May 26, 1938
Date of death: Feb. 19, 1967
Age: 28

Hines was killed in Vietnam, four-and-a-half months into his deployment. He was assigned to: India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

No. 42 car: Glenn L. Harris
Military branch: United States Army, First Sergeant
Date of birth: Dec. 2, 1959
Date of death: Dec. 4, 1994
Age: 35

Harris died during an airborne training exercise at Fort Benning, Georgia, directing rescuers to safety before he eventually drowned. He earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal for his actions and leadership. Harris was assigned to: Bravo Company, Third Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. 

No. 43 car: Jason Plite
Military branch: United States Air Force, Senior Airman
Date of birth: April 13, 1981
Date of death: March 23, 2003
Age: 21

Plite died on a rescue mission while attempting to save to young children in Afghanistan. He was passionate about art and had an amazing ability to make friends. Plite was assigned to: 38th Rescue Squadron.  

No. 47 car: Brent T. Vroman
Military branch: United States Marine Corps, Lance Corporal
Date of birth: Jan. 6, 1983
Date of death: Dec. 13, 2004
Age: 21

Vroman served as prison guard for four months at a facility in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, before a unit deployment to Iraq, where he was killed three months into his tour. He was assigned to: 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Corps Reserve, Chicago. 

No. 48 car: Reuben Marcus Fernandez III
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant
Date of birth: Nov. 6, 1985
Date of death: Oct. 11, 2008
Age: 22

Fernandez was killed during his second tour in Iraq. He joined the Army immediately after graduating high school. Fernandez was assigned to: 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

No. 51 car: Eric Parker Brice
Military branch: United States Navy, Lieutenant
Date of birth: April 6, 1943
Date of death: June 4, 1968
Age: 25

Brice's aircraft was struck by enemy fire after bombing a major intersection west of the province of Vinh, Vietnam, in the Gulf of Tonkin. He instructed his RIO to eject from the plane, and the RIO was safely recovered by a search and rescue crew. Brice could not eject in time and went down with the plane after the aircraft engulfed in flames. He was posthumously awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross. Brice was assigned to: Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33). 

No. 54 car: Jack Zygmunt Sky
Military branch: United States Army, Staff Sergeant
Date of birth: Dec. 20, 1929
Date of death: May 25, 1974
Age: 44

Sky was known as a dependable and highly capable team member during his time in service. He was assigned to: Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. 

No. 60 car: Michael David Verardo
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant
Date of birth: Feb. 16, 1985
Date of death: Aug. 26, 2025
Age: 40

Verardo suffered catastrophic wounds from two improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in Afghanistan. Against the odds, he lived 15 more years, enduring more than 120 surgeries to become a powerful advocate for wounded veterans. Verardo was assigned to: 82nd Airborne Division. 

No. 67 car: Nathan Gage Ingram
Military branch: United States Navy, Special Warfare Operator First Class (SEAL)
Date of birth: March 22, 1996
Date of death: Jan. 11, 2024
Age: 27

Ingram was lost at sea during a night mission in Somalia. A SEAL teammate fell into the water, and Ingram quickly jumped in to attempt to save him, but both he and his teammate were declared missing and deceased. Ingram received several awards and decorations for his service, including the Good Conduct Medal. He was assigned to: SEAL Team THREE. 

No. 71 car: Eddie Wade Forrest ll
Military branch: United States Marine Corps, Corporal
Date of birth: April 23, 1988
Date of death: May 31, 2025
Age: 37

Forrest served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan over four years. He was assigned to: 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines.

No. 77 car: Mark Cardillo
Military branch: United States Navy, Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL)
Date of birth: Jan. 24, 1974
Date of death: March 12, 2026
Age: 52

Cardillo was deployed multiple times to the Persian Gulf, where he received three Bronze Stars with Valor and several other achievements. He died battling Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs). Cardillo was assigned to: Naval Special Warfare Group EIGHT (NSWG-8) Training Detachment. 

No. 88 car: Eugene Ashley Jr.
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant First Class
Date of birth: Oct. 12, 1931
Date of death: Feb. 7, 1968
Age: 36

Ashley was killed during the Vietnam War while attempting to assist others during an assault. The battle allowed for survivors of Lang Vei to escape, and he was posthumously awarded with the Medal of Honor, presented to his family at the White House in 1969. Ashley was assigned to: Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. 

No. 97 car: Anthony J. Smaka
Military branch: United States Army, Corporal
Date of birth: Unknown
Date of death: Dec. 18, 1944
Age: Unknown

Smaka was killied in action during the opening stages of the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his sacrifice. Smaka was assigned to: 2nd Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division.

Pace car 1: Bristol Reece Johnson
Military branch: United States Navy, Seaman Second Class
Date of birth: March 26, 1925
Date of death: Jan. 6, 1945
Age: 19

Johnson was killed in an attack by Japanese kamikazes while deployed in the Philippines. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his service. Johnson was assigned to: USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692).

Pace car 2: Declan Coady
Military branch: United States Army Reserve, Sergeant
Date of birth: May 5, 2005
Date of death: March 1, 2026
Age: 20

Coady died while deployed in Kuwait. He graduated high school in 2023 before attending Drake University. Coady was assigned to: 103rd Sustainment Command. 

Grand Marshal car 2: Heath Bradley Shilling
Military branch: United States Navy, Petty Officer Third Class
Date of birth: Dec. 13, 1979
Date of death: July 15, 2001
Age: 21

Shilling joined the Navy out of high school, following in his father's footsteps. He was an aviation mechanic, working on helicopters. Shilling was assigned to: Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadron 4. 

Grand Marshal car 4: Raymond Louis Echevarria
Military branch: United States Army, Sergeant Major
Date of birth: Sept. 16, 1933
Date of death: Oct. 3, 1966
Age: 33

Echevarria was assigned to: Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group.