I met John Walker in September when I was the honorary ringmaster at the annual Shriners' circus.

A few days later, I got an email from him. He said he was going to walk the Appalachian Trail.

It was way to early to write that story.

I just got a note from Jack Bagley about the Bearbell Chicken and John Walker.

I knew that Jack, who was then known as Wando, graduated from Spencer High School in 1975, with my brother, Fred. I did not know until I opened Jack's note that John was in that same class.

The Bearbell Chicken story began in 1979 when John was a seaman aboard the Helicopter Main Countermeasures Squadron 14 (H-14) at Naval Air Station Norfolk. One of his shipmates had a rubber chicken that became a good-luck charm.

The chicken became part of every mission and subsequently visited places like Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Bahrain and Kuwait City. The chicken was photographed whereever the men went.

Between 1981-84, the chicken was photographed in Canada, Scotland, Japan, the Philippines, the Azores, Hong Kong, Guam, Turkey, Greece and many other places around the world.

That rubber chicken is still in H-14.

John is trying to start a new tradition with a new rubber chicken. This one has a hiker bear bell around its neck.

John will start the hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia and walk the 2,176 miles to Katahdin Mountain in Maine. The trek begins next month.

He is a disabled Desert Storm veteran and he's trying to raise awareness and money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

While he's walking and meets people along the trail, the various shelters, towns and local landmarks, he's hoping to take pictures of the chicken and various people. Those pictures will be posted on the chicken's Facebook page.

John Walker is an assistant producer who works with Jack on the children's show, "Calliope," which can be seen at 11 a.m. on WLTZ-TV 38.

So if you want to help John on his grueling journey, call Jack at 706-416-0165.