MACKINAW CITY - The Michigan tradition of the annual Mackinac Bridge walk happened Monday, with thousands of people from around the country taking part in this once-a-year event to celebrate Labor Day.
“Everybody’s joyful to celebrate it. You’ll see the sunrise in a way that you’ve never seen a sunrise before. You know, seeing two Great Lakes come together. Just an amazing, scene of natural beauty,” says Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II.
The tradition started in 1959 with only 68 people walking across the bridge. Now there are over 20,000 people from all over the country who make their way across the Mighty Mac.
“There’s nothing else like it. This is the third year we’ve done it together, and I think we’ll continue to do it for a long time,” shared one runner.
As the tradition continues for the state of Michigan, people also create their own. Terry Moore has been participating in the bridge walk since he was 3 years old, making this his 61st walk.
“Oh, you got to come up and do it. You got to put it on your bucket list. It should be on everybody’s bucket list. Or at least do it once,” says Moore.
As Terry continues his traditions, others are just starting.
We asked a young boy walking the bridge for the first time, “What are you looking forward to on the bridge?”
“I’m very happy because I’m looking forward. Because I think that I’ll make it across,” he shared.
While the celebration of Labor Day continues, it is important to know the history of who made the bridge happen.
“The strength of our labor unions, the point of pride for the state of Michigan, for our economy and for our country, they represent the best of this country. Hard working people, teamwork, tenacity. Like that’s these are the kind of things that we want everybody to embody,” says Gilchrist.