Orange and green flags hung from storefronts, balconies and streetlights as lawn chairs lined neighborhood streets in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Restaurants, hotels and camps filled with visitors from around the world, and nearly every conversation with a local began with them asking if they were there for the march.
For a team of airmen assigned to the 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, the answer was "yes."
From July 21-24, they marched alongside thousands of military and civilian participants in the 108th International Four Days Marches, known locally as the Vierdaagse, or "Walk of the World." The event — one of the Netherlands' longest-standing military traditions — brought together 47,000 registered participants, including 6,455 military members representing 38 nations, for nearly 100 miles of marching.
The Incirlik Air Base team was led by Air Force Capt. Nicholas Niazian, 39th Air Base Wing executive officer, and it joined more than 500 U.S. military participants from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. For the airmen, the march represented more than an endurance event; it served as an opportunity to demonstrate the physical readiness, mental resilience and teamwork required to execute the wing's mission anywhere in the world.
Niazian first learned about the Four Days Marches while stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, five years ago. The thought of it stayed with him, and after arriving at Incirlik Air Base, he immediately started assembling a team.
"I'm a huge supporter of what we do every day by serving alongside our allies," Niazian said. "When I learned there was an event where military members from NATO nations come together to march, built around determination, grit and camaraderie, I knew I had to do it."
Throughout the week, the team of 12 lived alongside military participants from across the globe at Kamp Heumensoord. This temporary Dutch military camp serves as home to thousands of military marchers each year. Between long days on the route, the camp became a place to recover, exchange stories and build friendships with the other service members.
After arriving at the camp July 19, the airmen in-processed, made their beds and transformed their assigned sleeping areas into makeshift homes for the week. American flags, squadron stickers and unit memorabilia decorated the tents while rucksacks were packed, boots were checked one last time and feet were taped in preparation for the challenge ahead.
Opening ceremonies, receptions and long-standing customs brought together service members from around the world before the first mile was ever walked. Participants traded unit patches, shared meals and built friendships between the rows of tents, creating connections that extended beyond uniforms, languages and nationalities.
Those traditions reflect the military heritage that has defined the event for more than a century.
Founded in 1909 as a military readiness march for Dutch service members, the march has grown into the world's largest multiday walking event, while remaining deeply connected to its military roots. Today, military members from around the world continue that tradition by marching shoulder to shoulder, reinforcing the relationships that contribute to regional stability across Europe.
Before sunrise July 21, reveille echoed through the air as thousands of military participants prepared to step off. Boots were laced, rucksacks were shouldered and participants departed for their designated starting locations, beginning the first of four consecutive days marching through Nijmegen and the surrounding area.
Each day, the 39th Air Base Wing team marched approximately 25 miles through small villages, farmland and city streets before returning to camp to prepare for the next day's route.
Along the way, an estimated 2.5 million spectators transformed the march into a citywide celebration. Streets were lined with cheering families, music echoed through neighborhoods and residents handed out water, snacks and words of encouragement from front yards and sidewalks. Live music and performances energized participants throughout the route, especially during the final day's march into Nijmegen.
Just before the final stretch to the finish line, the team received one last boost when they were invited onto a large stage to celebrate with performers, DJs and fellow participants.
"I looked back at the team and said, 'We're getting on that stage,'" said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Blair Pembleton, 39th Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer. "Without hesitation, the entire team climbed onstage, waving our flag and dancing alongside the other teams. It gave us the push we needed to finish those last few miles."
While the crowds helped lift spirits, completing nearly 100 miles over four days with a 20-pound rucksack remained a demanding test of physical endurance, mental resilience and teamwork.
By the end of each day, sore feet, aching shoulders and tired legs had become routine. Blisters were treated, uniforms were hand-washed and rucksacks were repacked before participants climbed into their bunks, only to wake before sunrise to do it all again.
"We chose to take on something difficult together as a team," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Fabrizzio Ulate, 39th Security Forces Squadron training instructor. "Every one of us had moments when we needed help and every one of us had moments when we were able to help someone else. Whether it was sharing food, water or supplies, or simply encouraging someone through a tough stretch, we got to the finish line together."
Beyond testing endurance, the march demonstrated that interoperability begins with people. By marching side by side with Dutch and other allied forces, living together at Kamp Heumensoord, and sharing the challenges of the event, the 39th Air Base Wing team strengthened bonds that enable multinational forces to operate as a single, cohesive team when called upon.
"It didn't matter which country's team you were walking with," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Melissa Gunderson, 39th Security Forces Squadron standards and evaluations noncommissioned officer in charge. "As soon as 'Country Roads' or '500 Miles' came on, the whole road turned into one big singalong. It made the miles go by a little faster and made an already unforgettable experience even more fun."
On the fourth and final day, after more than 215,000 steps, the team entered Nijmegen for the traditional finish along the Via Gladiola. Streets were packed with cheering spectators as participants were showered with gladiolus flowers, a long-standing symbol of strength, perseverance and victory.
Military participants who successfully completed all four days earned the bright yellow Vierdaagse Cross, recognizing the successful completion of nearly 100 miles on foot.
For the 39th Air Base Wing team, the Four Days Marches was more than a fitness event. They demonstrated the resilience required to project power, deter aggression and ensure regional stability across the European theater. More than 80 years after the liberation of the Nijmegen region, U.S. service members honored that legacy, reinforcing that the NATO alliance's greatest strength is built not only through combined operations, but through the friendships forged between those who serve.