05/23/2026
Jonathan spent the night camped out in his little tent at Norwalk First United Methodist Church. It was a pleasure to speak with him. Very nice young man.
I got to spend some time today with Johnathan McKracken, a 24-year-old Army veteran from Richmond, Indiana, who is walking across the country to raise money and awareness for mental health.
Johnathan made his way into Vermilion today, and I took him over to Pavilion Grill so he could get something to eat. He went with the mac and cheese burger.
This young man is doing something most of us could never imagine. He started near the Indiana-Ohio border, is heading toward Niagara Falls and hopes to continue west toward California. Along the way, he is relying on churches, kind strangers and people in each town to help him keep going.
He is safe tonight, but the little things still matter. He can’t carry much, so even small help can make a difference. Socks and water are a big deal. A few dollars for water, food, socks or basic travel needs can help him continue safely.
His mission is connected to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and he is walking in memory of his brother and for everyone who has struggled with mental health.
If you see Johnathan on the road, please be kind. And if you want to follow or support his journey, you can do that here:
https://linktr.ee/Johnnyexploress
