Captain America visits Colfax

COLFAX-Captain America was strolling through town Nov. 22, adorned with shield and a POW flag on his bag.

Under the mask, however, wasn't Steve Rogers of Brooklyn, it was Allen Mullins of Dalton, Georgia. Mullins was passing through on a cross-country walk to raise awareness for veterans and firefighters.

"Nice guy," said Roger Myers of LaCrosse. "Got a great idea."

Mullins stayed with Myers during his two night layover in LaCrosse. Myers and his wife are co-founders of W.H.E.A.T., an organization that collects items and sends them to American troops, a cause similar to Mullins'.

Mullins encourages people to donate to their local fire departments and VFWs. When people tried to give him money to support his cause in LaCrosse, Myers said he turned it down and told them to donate to the fire department.

According to the flier Mullins handed out in Colfax, he has been walking cross-country since 2009. This walk started in Maple Valley, Wash., and will end in Harrisonburg, Vir.

"This walk is about acknowledging our heroes at home. The often overlooked until you need them saviors of life and limb. The brave men and women of every local fire department across our nation," the flier reads. "I would encourage everyone to donate supplies to their local FD and volunteer if they can."

Mullins entered Whitman County from Washtucna. He was driven to Colfax where he was planning to walk to Oakesdale, then Plummer, to the best of Myers' knowledge.