Great American Relay maps 565-mile 9/11 tribute for America 250

The Great American Relay will run Sept. 5-11, 2026, on a 565-mile route from the Flight 93 National Memorial to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, with a stop at the Pentagon Memorial. The seven-day event is raising funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during the nation’s 250th anniversary year.

Why it matters: - The Great American Relay is tying America’s 250th anniversary to a 9/11 remembrance route that connects three major memorial sites. - The event is also designed to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families, catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, and efforts to end veteran homelessness. - The relay welcomes runners of all abilities, making the tribute broader than a competitive endurance race.

What happened: - The Great American Relay announced its 7th annual relay on July 22, 2026. - The event will run Sept. 5-11, 2026, over 565 miles in seven days. - The route starts at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. - The route continues to the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. - The relay ends at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. - The event is being held during the 25th anniversary year of the 9/11 attacks. - Organizers say the theme is “Never Forget.”

The details: - The relay is expected to draw runners, firefighters, law enforcement officers, military veterans, Gold Star families, civic leaders and local communities across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York. - Participants can register for individual relay legs. - Teams can also enter the event. - Volunteers can support the relay along the route. - Organizers are seeking individual runners, corporate sponsors, volunteer course marshals, community partners and veteran and first responder organizations. - Registration, sponsorship opportunities, volunteer information and donations are available at More information. - The Great American Relay’s media contact is Vince Varallo, Race Director, Great American Relay, at vince@greatamericanrelay.com and +1 215-260-9860. - The event’s social channels include Instagram, Facebook and X.

Between the lines: - The route is built to turn a run into a public act of remembrance, with the memorial stops reinforcing the event’s message of service and sacrifice. - The fundraising mission gives the relay a practical purpose beyond symbolism, which can make sponsorship and participation more compelling for businesses and community groups. - Opening the event to runners of all abilities broadens the audience and helps the relay function as both a memorial and a community event.

What’s next: - Organizers are recruiting participants, sponsors, marshals and partner organizations ahead of the September event. - The relay will move along its memorial route during the Sept. 5-11 run and conclude in New York City on the 25th anniversary year of the attacks. - Fundraising and registration efforts are expected to continue as the event approaches.

The bottom line: - The Great American Relay is using a 565-mile run to link remembrance, fundraising and America’s 250th anniversary in a single weeklong tribute.