2006 USA National Games: The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg is so named because it is the culmination of Torch run events that have occurred throughout the United States. The mission is to raise awareness of Special Olympics and the National Games. Download the full 2006 USA National Games Final Leg Team brochure (Adobe PDF, 924K) The Final Leg tradition is for law enforcement officers, representing their state, to act as "Guardians of the Flame" and carry the Special Olympics torch "Flame of Hope" to the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics National Games. The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg is not only a salute to the athletes from around the United States who will compete in the USA National Games, but also an honor for the participating law enforcement officers who comprise the Torch Run Final Leg Team. The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg kick off will take place in Chicago, Illinois, site of the First International Special Olympics Games in1968. As the torch journeys to Ames, Iowa, celebration events will occur along the route. For the 2006 National Games, the Final Leg Team is comprised of 109 members, including law enforcement runners, Special Olympic athletes and Support Team members. The team represents 48 states as well as the District of Columbia. The Final Leg team will conduct ceremonies in over 86 towns and communities in Illinois and Iowa along the Final Leg route. The team will carry the Final Leg Torch, which was designed exclusively for the USA National Games LETR Final Leg. The Torch design is representative of the heartland of America featuring images from Soldier Field to the fields of Iowa. Schedule of Events Saturday, 24 June — Lighting of the Flame, Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill (Home of the first Special Olympics competition). Sunday, 25 June — "Flame of Hope" will cross the Mississippi River into Iowa. Monday, 26 June-Saturday, 1 July — The Torch Run Final Leg team will split into three separate teams and carry the flame across Iowa. Sunday, 2 July — The Torch Run Final Leg team will carry the Flame of Hope to Hilton Coliseum for the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 USA National Games. The Torch will then be handed over to a Special Olympics athlete who will light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremonies, marking the opening of the Games. The 2006 Final Leg Team is made up of law enforcement runners, Special Olympics athletes and Support Team members chosen from Torch Run Programs currently active around the country: Final Leg Team Special Olympics Program Law Enforcement Runners Ken Atkinson Alabama Terry Vrabec Alaska Terry Kuykendall Arkansas James Cesolini Arizona Jon Froomin California, Northern Ken George California, Southern Bruce Briscoe Colorado Joseph Salmeri Connecticut Bruno Battaglia Delaware Cole Barnhart District of Columbia Norman Wilson Florida Daniel Colberg Georgia Darren Horio Hawaii Jim Kerns Idaho Ron Riedel Illinois Paul Ciesielski Indiana John Focht Iowa Bob Schluben Kansas Charles Bell Kentucky Juvenal "Chico" Maldonado Louisiana Robert Gregoire Maine Douglas Holland Maryland Richard Tavares Massachusetts Mark Horsley Michigan Kenneth Reed Minnesota Peter Leyva Missouri Peggy Ash Montana Jeff Boston Nebraska Elliott Castile Nevada Sydney Barnes New Hampshire John Reardon New Jersey Maurice Graff New Mexico Joseph Barca New York Hank Guess North Carolina Steve Gabrielson North Dakota Mike Laage Ohio John Beech Oklahoma Dawn Jordan Oregon Tom Maioli Pennsylvania Jamie Hainsworth Rhode Island Glenn Williams South Carolina James Walker South Dakota Heather Black Tennessee Joe Villarreal Texas Shanda Ross Utah Jack Harris Vermont Marie Kane Virginia Dean Sprague Washington Daryl Pries Wisconsin Joe Cronk Wyoming     Special Olympics Athlete Runners Cheryl Beard Arizona Brian Kretz California, Northern Matthew Klemets Connecticut Stanley Mertes Illinois Rolla Lucas Iowa David Lane Minnesota James Darko Montana Greg Bacon New Hampshire Blaine Schulz North Dakota     Running Team Leaders Paul Epstein Hawaii Rich Hickle Iowa Jason Johnson Montana Paul Montray New Hampshire John Newnan Maryland Mike Peretti Northern California Tom Reasoner Illinois Jim Reno Indiana Rodney Seurer Minnesota     Support Team Members Rich Banahan Missouri Julie Buedding Wisconsin Anna Burke SOI Brad Freis Texas Steve Graehling Arizona Jeff Henson Illinois Kurt Kendro Hawaii Joe Pena Illinois Chris Porreca New York Gerald Sandoval New Mexico Susan Stegeman Missouri Bob Selby Iowa Steve Palmer Iowa Jeanette Steinfeldt Iowa Erin McKeown Iowa Kristine Weitzell Iowa Seann DeMaris Iowa Rod Rhiner Iowa Jeff Franzen Iowa Chris Moline Iowa Kevin Steele Iowa Steven Robinson Iowa Matt Mardesen Iowa Dean House Iowa Dennis Jackson Iowa Len Mash Iowa John Mertz Iowa Dave Thomas Illinois Tom Frost Illinois Jim Meier Illinois Herb Gelb Pennsylvania Tommy Walker Indiana     Team Captain Michael Teem North Carolina