Women veterans complete 300-mile march, ending in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than 300 miles over four weeks, women veterans led a march across North Carolina, wrapping up their journey Saturday in Wilmington.

The final miles of the journey, which started in Asheville, ended at Wilmington’s 1898 Memorial.

Women veterans and other community members joined the march from downtown Wilmington to the memorial, where they gathered for speeches and a closing ceremony.

The march, called “Operation Take Up Space,” is about more than walking across the state. Organizer Lindsey Knapp says it’s about showing what women — and anyone — can do when they step up in their communities.

“We are trying to emphasize ethical leadership, centering women, really showing what it looks like when a woman leads. When a woman leads, she takes care of her community, and she builds the community that she wants to see.”

Knapp says organizers are also encouraging people to make their voices heard at the polls and get involved in their communities in whatever way works for them.