Former U.S. Marine Brian Geerts walked through Washington County Friday carrying a U.S. flag to bring awareness to veterans’ mental health.

Geerts started his latest trip July 22nd at the Freedom Rock in Oakland. In the morning, he starts at one county’s Freedom Rock, then walks with his flag proudly in the air to the next county. Day five of his trek started at the Freedom Rock in Brighton. He then made his way north on Highway 1 towards Washington. Before making his way to Louisa County, he was greeted at Moore’s BP gas station at 2 p.m. by about a dozen community members who thanked him for what he was doing. He was also met by the Washington Police Department, Washington County Ambulance, and Washington County Rescue who gave Geerts an escort through Washington. He made a similar trip through the Hawkeye State last year, as well as walks in 11 other states.

Geerts told KCII News that it’s been a lot of hard work, but the ends always justify the means, “I know there’s somebody out there who needs help that will see me. I’ve already touched four people in the four journeys I’ve had. Some days I don’t talk to anybody. When I did Illinois, I started by Joliet, not one person stopped. It doesn’t discourage me because I know the next day I’ll find somebody, or somebody will stop and ask what’s going on. Maybe they’ll talk to somebody that talks to somebody that talks to somebody that talks to somebody that gets to the right person. Or maybe like the four people I’ve touched personally, if I meet them personally and make sure they’re seeking help, that’s the main thing.”

Last year, Geerts raised nearly $5,000 to go towards his cause. He is currently raising funds for the Puppy Jake Foundation, which helps veterans adopt service animals, and Healing at English River Outfitters in Washington. Once he wraps up this walk, he plans on making a similar trip through the southern Iowa counties in the fall