By Charlie Daniels Jr. | June 1, 2021 | 10:26am EDT
Members of Shepherd s Men running team arrive as Charlie Daniels The Journey Home Project presents Shepherd Center Foundations, Inc. with a check on March 31, 2016 in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo credit: Jason Davis/Getty Images)
At approximately 8:30, I arrived at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens, where the mortal shell that once housed my beloved father now resides. There were more cars and trucks and people there that day than probably since we buried dad in July.
The conglomeration of CDB family and friends, including my mom, Mt. Juliet’s finest, and a determined group of men and one woman who were about to embark on a very difficult journey. The Shepherd’s Men were about to ruck – essentially a run/march – fifteen miles from dad’s grave to Sammy B s Restaurant in Lebanon, carrying 83 lbs. in a backpack, symbolizing dad’s 83 years on earth.
A mission to save lives
Afterwards, country star Darryl Worley will play live at a free-entry public reception at Sammy B’s Restaurant, which is located inside the Castle Heights Military Academy. The partnership between the
Shepherd’s Men started when Daniels worked with the latter group on annual fundraisers to benefit veterans.
TCDJHP co-founder and Daniels’ longtime manager David Corlew says: “Veteran suicides were a critical concern to Charlie, and just a few weeks before he passed we agreed that this issue should become a major priority within our overall mission. He believed so much in the Shepherd’s Men’s work, so this is an epic way of honoring Charlie and continuing his mission of saving lives.”
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