farragutpress

Hemphill runs for freedom

October 1, 2025 by Tammy Cheek

Josh Hemphill, principal agent/owner with Josh Hemphill State Farm, 11420 Kingston Pike, made a run for freedom Thursday, Sept. 11.

Hemphill and his team took part in the JHST Freedom Run to observe the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies at New York’s Twin Towers and Washington, D.C.’s Pentagon.

“We started the day with our JHSF Freedom Run, remembering the heroes lost on 9/11 and honoring the brave first responders and military who serve our communities every day,” Hemphill stated on his Facebook page. “This emotional run is more than just a run — it’s a tribute to their courage and sacrifice.

“We invite you to show your gratitude by thanking your local police, firefighters, medical teams and military personnel,” he stated “You can also support them by sending a donation or sharing a special message of thanks. Let’s come together to honor and uplift those who protect us!”

The JHSF Freedom Run is a reaction to a freedom run previously started by Justin Dutcher.

In a later interview, Dutcher said he had just gotten into running in 2022, when he started training for the Knoxville marathon in 2023.

“I am not a social media guy, but I had caught wind that over the years, especially since the pandemic, that some people had essentially lost sight of the meaning and importance of our flag,” he said.

“It was very close to Sept. 11 when I had found this out, and I remembered, when all of that happened in 2001,

I was just a third-grade kid, didn’t know much about the world, but I knew that our nation came together like something I hadn’t ever imagined,” Dutcher recalled.

“There were patriotic festivals, yellow ribbons everywhere, flags on every home.

“It was just amazing to see that no matter what background you came from and what your political beliefs were, we came together as one nation under that flag,” he said. “I wanted to somehow cultivate that feeling back to our community and, as I was leaving the house on the morning of Sept. 11, 2023, I had planned to go for a run prior to work after I dropped my kids off at school. As I passed my flag mounted on my front porch, I thought, ‘You know what, I am going to run through Powell — where I live — and on my route, I will carry that flag to hopefully show people that we can all band back together.’

“I wanted it to not only show the community it’s okay to love your flag and your country, but we also lost many lives and heroes on Sept 11. It was a great way to show love to both causes,” Dutcher said.

“So, the event stemmed from the run I had been doing, and we wanted to find a way to get the community involved,” he said.

While this was the first year holding the Freedom Run, Dutcher said the past two years he “had just run.

“Last year, we did have a small group in Oak Ridge run, then I had completed the Powell run,” he added.

Although no money was raised, “we just asked the community to somehow give back to our local fire, EMS and police,” Dutcher said.

This year, “Josh Hemphill and I completed the run,” he added. “All of our team members helped support us, take photos, etc.

“We had a great time,” Dutcher said. “We started the event at 5 a.m. in Oak Ridge at our new location on the Turnpike. Josh and I both carried our flags for a 6-mile run up and down the turnpike that started at our Oak Ridge office.

“We then split up, and I ran another 6 miles through the main areas of Powell, starting from our Powell location,” Dutcher said. “Josh went to Farragut and ran what would be our parade route for the Fourth of July.

“No significance on the milage,” Dutcher said. “We just wanted the flag to be seen in the main areas of town to give it the most exposure.

“So many people in each community were so supportive,” he said. “We had many honks, waves, chats, you name it. Just, people were so wonderful and encouraging.

“You can’t help but get emotional if you love your country,” Dutcher said. “In Powell, I had even had an AMR ambulance driver pull over in a parking lot and wait for me. He got out and we shook hands and gave each other a hug as we both got emotional.

“He thanked me for raising awareness for his brothers and sisters in emergency response,” he said. “I said to him that the community loves and thanks them and this day is so important in remembering them. I wish I could do more than just run down the road with a flag.

“Josh is always such a supportive boss, and he loves all of our communities like family,” Dutcher said. “So, when he said he wanted to join me in the run and hold an event, I was so excited.

“It means a lot to hold a first-time event for something I have been doing for a few years,” Dutcher said. “We pray that in the future, it can grow into an event to raise money for local fire/EMS/police and ultimately help bring our community back to that ‘one nation’ mentality.”

“We will absolutely have it next year,” he said. “All are welcome to come walk, run or just come and show support to our local heroes. Come with your best patriotic gear.”

For more information about JHSF, call 865-675-3999.