2007 Public Statements
"Sun Up to the Gun" Exhibit Opening"
Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission, Thomas M. Countryman
Marathon Museum
November 4, 2007
(in Greek)
Thank you, on behalf of the United States of America. First, I want to say a big thank you to the organizers of the Marathon and the exhibit, and especially to the Mayor, Mr. Spiros Tsigaris.
(in English)
This is a fantastic opportunity that means a lot not just to the American people but to me personally. I had no idea that we would have the opportunity tonight to meet people I have read about, and considered my heroes, and admired from a long way away: including the son of Mr. Kyriakidis; including Rosa Mota, whose victory I witnessed only on television many years ago, but it was a great one; and too many other people than I could possibly mention.
A museum like this one is to celebrate champions, but an event like today is to celebrate the fact that running is not just for the elite. It is also for the masses. And, to be able to bring together and honor tonight people who helped bring the physical and the mental joy of running to the masses, including the IAAF, including the Hopkinton Athletic Association, who have organized this exhibit, and so many other representatives, speaks to the very democratic nature of running, and especially of marathon running.
If you are lucky enough, like me, to have the chance to live in Greece, you can become fascinated by Greek culture and history very rapidly. But, even before I ever knew I would live here, the history of the Marathon was just one of the ways that Greece penetrated my consciousness even as a teenager. And even before I ran a marathon, I and the friends that I was running with knew the story of the Battle of Marathon, of Pheidippides, and of not just the athletic history but the military history of that day.
The two marathons that are being brought together are very special to me. I’ve run the Marine Corps Marathon, but the two races I remember best of the marathons that I ran were Boston, the year I ran my fastest race ever, and right here in Marathon, which was the last marathon I ran, and I am sorry to report it was my slowest time ever.
So, again thank you for this opportunity. A big salute to the people of Marathon; to the people of Hopkinton; to Susan Gates and to Tim Killduff for bringing us here to this great exhibit; to the IAAF for everything that you do throughout the world to make us healthier and smarter. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to sharing this exhibit with you.