To raise awareness for disabled veterans, Richard Hunsucker is going the distance — literally. The Green Bay man and retired Marine is walking across the country to raise money and awareness for Disabled American Veterans.

The 2,650-mile journey will take him through eight states across the southern United States. He began in Jacksonville, Fla., on Veterans Day and expects to be in San Diego, Calif., by Memorial Day.

"When you know you want to help somebody, you think of ways to raise awareness for your cause," he said. For Hunsucker, it meant carrying the Disabled American Veterans flag across America.

He averages 17 miles a day, which puts him ahead of his 202-day schedule. He uses the days off to visit VA hospitals, military bases, and war memorials.

The project started out small, but the amount of people involved has quickly grown. Hunsucker said the project has collected close to $400,000 in pledges and a lot of attention from the communities he has walked through. More and more people are learning about the cause and helping him get to California by Memorial Day, he said.

"Every day, people blow their horns, make donations, pay for our meals, or just stop and talk," said Hunsucker. "The team is getting bigger. I have the flag, God and half of America with me."

The growing support is also evident on Hunsucker's Web site, www.vet walking.org. He updates his progress with daily blog entries, and countless people from the cities he has walked through have left messages of support.

Hunsucker said Americans need to keep veterans a top priority.