A local veteran from Amityville is achieving a big milestone today.

Billy Richards is surpassing 11,000 miles running while carrying an American flag.

Today, Richards ran the Thunder Run 5K in Yaphank.

Richards participated in over 6,000 races with the flag.

Richards says running with a backpack symbolizes the emotional weight that he and other veterans carry.

Richards’ next goal is to finish 700 events while carrying the flag.