I got my plaque for serving Run For The Wall on the Board of Directors.

It was with mixed emotions that I stood on the platform and held the microphone, talking to a small percentage of our riders and leadership.  The closing ceremony was in a new location at a new time this year, so it wasn't real well attended, but some very key people certainly were there, and I was so honored.

In my "farewell speech" I reminded the all volunteer participants and leadership that the Board of Directors exists to provide resources and support to the Route Leadership.  They have no other purpose, no agenda, even though we all know that when something is changed or goes wrong the Board takes the heat.

This year's planning went remarkably smooth, we were able to work out most debated details, meet the expectations of most leadership, and follow-up on some major changes that affected a lot of riders.  Our leaders were honored all across country.

I know we saw more people on overpasses in communities that were never aware we came through, for instance in Kentucky, the State Fire Commissioner heard we were coming through and had at least one Fire Truck on every overpass we went under.  It was pretty incredible know all through that state people knew who we were, that we were blowing through their state on a mission and that we were honored.

The plaque is beautiful. 
It has a very large disc inlaid with the POW/MIA emblem and two Challenge Coins one heads, one tails.  And the plate itself recognizes my service as Chairman of the Board this year.


I was very honored at the recognition ceremony - and nervous giving my speech, but I certainly felt the support and love of the leadership and ridership of Run For The Wall.

Two more days with no rain, Wentzville Missouri to Corydon Indiana to Hurricane West Virginia

 

Photo courtesy of National WW II Museum LINK:

Because we met a POW from WW II Battle of the Bulge today, I did a little research on that battle.  I found this telegram, and I have to tell you that this brought back such a flood of memories, I nearly changed my mind about blogging about Run For The Wall.

My Mother worked for Western Union, I used to go to work with her and watch her make up these telegrams.  My Dad worked there, too, for many years, he started with the Teletype and Morse Code, and worked there through computers in the 70's.  He is a World War II Veteran and I'm so proud of him.









NOW FOR MY UPDATE on RFTW Days 7 and 8

Well it happened, I couldn't blog in Wentzville Missouri because we didn't have wi-fi and I barely got time to shower and sleep after doing the Famous Fish Fry in Corydon, IN.  So here I am doing what I hoped I wouldn't do this year - posting for two days riding.
Getting to Wentzville Missouri is always a great ride.  We've gone from Ocean to Desert, from Mountains to Foothills, to PLAINS, snow, hail, and now through the windy state of Kansas, into Missouri.  The highways are surrounded by standing pools of overflowing rivers and streams, the fields smell of recent rain, and road kill is everywhere.  Everything is growing, bushes, trees, they're spreading out all over the sides of the roads, medians, power lines and road signs.  Tree trimming will be a huge industry this year.

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/history/bulge.html

After leaving Wentzville, Missouri, we stopped at the Veterans Hospital in Jefferson Barracks, in St. Louis and the hubby talked with a WW II Veteran who was a POW and at the Battle of the Bulge.  He had the opportunity to pray with him.  The gentleman was in his 90's and noticed I was a lady Chaplain, he was so excited to meet a lady that was a Chaplain, he was a very sweet man.  He loved having prayer.

We talked with several patience and completed our ceremony for that location, and began rolling through Illinois, kind of on a South East track, things continued to get greener, and soon we were in areas that were being mowed.  Now many have their allergies acting up.

One man commented on the Southern Indiana "Hog Farm" odor.  He was nearly sickened by a smell that is very common to us - being from the Midwest.  He's from the Mojave Desert.  I guess there aren't hog farms there.

Odors are definitely a topic of discussion when you're riding a motorcycle.  We had our share of manure and fertilizer spreading wafting our way, but the closer we got to Corydon, the more beautiful the hills became and the sky was perfect, it was close to 84 degrees but cooling, and Overpasses were occupied with Hoosiers waving flags.  Slowing to make the turn into the little town where we would soon have a fish fry, there were families, groups of children, business people all standing at the curb, in backs of trucks, up on hillsides, and all along the sidewalks, out in front of homes and businesses waving flags, clapping, some sitting in lawn chairs, waiting for this parade of nearly 400 bikes to roll through their town.

There was not a dry eye in the pack.

Leaving Corydon this morning we went to the Robley Rex VA Hospital in Louisville, KY.  Then on to the Frankfort, KY Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  At the hospital we talked with a lot of the staff, who need encouragement because of the nature of their jobs.  The hubby was able to spend time with some interns and hear of their needs.  It was a great visit.  I stood and talked with a patient named Jerry who was a Vietnam Veteran.  He really wished he could get on his bike, which was in his garage, and ride with us, but he had health issues that had him hospitalized.  I hope we were an encouragement.

I also spend some time with office employees who asked several questions about the logistics of the Run.

THAT WAS YESTERDAY & THE LONG SALUTE - we see it so many places

On an overpass you may see a silhouette of a person saluting, as you approach in the pack of motorcycles.  We had the opportunity to be ahead of the pack on Friday, so we saluted as they arrived.  It was such an honor to make eye contact with nearly every rider who had just came down out of the mountains into the valley of Angel Fire.  Even though my arm ached from the awkward position of the salute, it was worth it to be there honoring each rider on day 3.

Russ was remembering his first stop at Angel Fire.  Seeing the Huey helicopter nose down in it's pose as a memorial, he broke.  He stood alone that day pondering, remembering the rides he took, the jumps he had to make, the gut wrenching fear that was all a part of the atmosphere of War.  He thought he was alone anyway.  A Run For The Wall rider stepped up to him and said, "THAT WAS YESTERDAY, THIS IS TODAY."

Well, what a healing statement.

He finds himself doing a lot of ministry now at that same location. 

WELL - riding safely, but got a bug!

It is weird riding on a tight schedule with Montezuma's revenge.

Don't know if it was something I ate or what but, we had to drop out of the pack for the second day and ride ahead.  It started with a major headache and all has finally let up somewhat tonight.

Yesterday we stopped at Angel Fire, got there before the main group, and stood at the top of the uphill entrance to salute all the riders, THAT's a LONG SALUTE!!  The memorial there built by a Father when his son was killed in Vietnam, has become one of the highlights of Run For The Wall, Central Route