Couple On a Mission to Help Vets

William Mosebach and Kristen Creech arrived at Prescott Park on Wednesday morning pushing their Baby Blue Betsey Bangor carriage that was loaded with their sleeping bags and other hiking supplies.

The couple made a stop in Portsmouth after beginning their 2,500 trek from Calais, Maine to Florida to help military veterans and their families. U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, personally thanked them for their efforts.

"We're glad to have you here," said Ayotte. "Thank you for your service and everything you're doing to help our veterans."

Mosebach, 32, an Iraq War Army veteran who served there in 2003, said he wanted to do something to help his fellow veterans their families cope with the struggles that they experience after they come home.

"We've always wanted to hike for a cause and me being a veteran myself I could really emphasize with veterans," he said."

"We are not supporters of the war," Mosebach said. "We are supporters of those who have been affected by the war."

Mosebach said the suicide rate for Iraq War and Afghanistan war veterans is 18 percent. Creech, 25, said she, too, wanted to do something for military veterans and their families and when the couple saw the "Active Heroes" web site, they decided to do the hike.

"We've been talking about doing this hike for 2 1/2 years," Creech said. She said it will take them seven months to complete the hike to Florida and along the way they have already encountered plenty of people, including the families of soldiers who have been killed in action, who have been very supportive.

Creech said they raised $4,000 just from walking in Maine and they hope to raise more money as they make their way to Florida.

"We've had some touching moments," said Mosebach about meeting the families of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. "There are times when we're tired and we don't want to walk anymore and it always happens at the right time."

Creech explained that people who want to donate to Active Heroes, can visit their web site or they can go to their Hike for Heroes Facebook page to see photos and video of their trek.

"It's all still very surreal for us," said Mosebach about the widespread support their hike has received so far. He hopes that as they continue their journey, word about what they are doing will continue to spread.

"If we become a household name, that would be great," he said.

Ayotte commended Mosebach and Creech for their cause and promised to promote it on her Twitter account and Facebook page. "I think it's a fantastic effort, what they are doing to help our men and women in uniform. It gives members of the public an opportunity to help."