Jennifer Sangalang

FLORIDA TODAY

"You're the first reporter to hang out with us."

I smiled when I heard that and thought. Who wouldn't want to hang out with the Reviresco crew? This nonprofit group, made up of University of Delaware ROTC cadets, made it a mission to bridge the gap between the civilian and military populations. How? Through communication, engagement and education.

In short, Reviresco wants people to go beyond saying "thank you for your service" to veterans.

So they run from city to city during a 22-day, multi-state trip, spreading their message, chatting with civilians and veterans along the way. This year, they went from New York City to Miami from June 2-24. I met the six runners, their marketing guru and bus driver when they stopped in Rockledge earlier this week.

Reviresco: Do more, say more than 'thank you for your service'

A few things stood out during our time together:

• The bus. It's comfy. The Reviresco Run works like a relay race, and each runner runs 10-15 miles every day. So they need a place to unwind. And what a place that is. This yellow beast that used to ferry students to and from school now comfortably sleeps eight. There are couches, twin mattresses and a booth that transforms into a bed. One of the runners sleeps on the floor. Everything is kept neat and orderly. In a plastic tub of shoes, I spotted a pair of cowboy boots. In lieu of a closet, there's a place to hang up suits and nice clothes. The bus was basically a moving dorm room. It's their place to relax after a long day of running and engaging with the community.

• The snacks. I watched with awe (and slight grown-up envy) as these college kids ate Tostitos and chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. A few loaded up on carbs. As one slathered on peanut butter on a bagel, he asked if anybody picked up some crunchy peanut butter (the answer was no).

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• The manners. I am a civilian with few personal ties to the military, but I have enormous respect for those in the armed forces. It was refreshing to be around these millennials, who let me into "their world." "Yes, ma'am." "Thank you, ma'am." In addition to the running, it's their job to talk and listen. They do all three with aplomb.

• They're a close-knit crew. Lindsey Baryluk of Franklin, Massachusetts, the lone female, can dish it and take it. After a 2-miler, she was drenched in sweat, ready to high-five co-founder David Dinerman, who was cheering her on at the mark. But after the high-five, she bear-hugged him, wiping her sweat all over his clean, dry shirt. It reminded me of Penelope Pussycat getting away from Pepe Le Pew. "Ugh!" David complained. "You do that every time!"

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• The teasing and competitive nature. It can't be easy to be on a bus with seven others for 22 days straight. But these millennials make it happen. I learned Micah Petersen of Houston, co-founder of the nonprofit, uses the most hairspray of the bunch. He's super proud of his hair, and he gets a haircut every other week. His peers made a point of mentioning it. Angel Ortiz of Wilmington, Delaware, likes to start first so he can "set the bar" for everybody else.

Next summer, the Reviresco Run group will embark on their fourth annual trek. Route unknown, for now. If they stop along the Space Coast again, I'll be there to cheer them on, too.

For more on Reviresco, which means "renewal" in Latin, visit reviresco.us. Send a Tweet to @revirescorun

Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630

or jsangalang@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @byjensangalang