After incredible ministry opportunities at the Wall, most riders head home.

 We stayed over for 2 weeks in an apartment at the church.

Kevin stayed too.  We're working on some landscaping here, while we prepare for church services in Centreville, VA this weekend and Manassas next weekend.  The opportunities at the Wall were so powerful this year.  Russ met this man at the entry path, offered to escort him to the Wall, and the man ended up spending a great deal of time because he had several names he had to find rubbings for family members.  It was powerful, and emotional.  I snapped a few pictures and posted them with his permission as it is also a very private time.  God is so faithful to send just the right person when we need an arm around the shoulder.

We both needed that support our first trip to the Wall - it's so piercing, you actually feel the power of the black granite penetrating your heart.  Every name represents a young man who was never able to watch his children grow, represents unborn children, grandchildren and mothers, wives and girlfriends who grieved.  Family members who couldn't accept the unpopular war, family and friends who protested, and buddies who survived, only to return and grieve with "survivor's guilt."

You feel it when you gradually approach the wall, as it starts tiny with the first name and begins to increase in height as you step down the graded path.  You don't know, should I step on the bricks, should I touch the wall, should I leave this item I've carried across country, do these items deface the memorial or add to it, do I keep walking or pause, should I let people pass me or stay in the flow of tourists, do they think I'm crazy or do they have any idea?  So many questions, the heart says, "Stay, Pause, Remember."  Look around, there, alone, lay a hand on that arm, "Are you Okay?"

Are you Okay?

Are you Okay?

Am I Okay?  Wow, I felt faint.  It was probably my 11th or 12th visit to the Wall, but I was not Okay.  All the work and planning that went into the 2011 Run For The Wall sort of flooded over me, and the reward was certainly at the Wall.  I saw a former Board Member walking with a new rider, stopping looking for a name on the Wall.  I was reminded that it is ALL ABOUT THE NEW GUY (FNG) at this point, and it WAS ALL WORTH IT!!

Duane Gryder has accident:


Duane had another rider with him, but in front of him on another bike.  He was in Arkansas on the way to Texas after leaving Washington D.C., when his back tire blew out.  The rider with him saw him flying through the air.  He landed and was knocked unconscious.  The first thing he remembers is his friend standing over him.

He will be fine, but he has a broken clavicle and is in a lot of pain.

We're so thankful he's going to be fine.

Duane and his wife are Motorcycle Chaplains like my husband and I.

Appreciate prayers going up for them as he heals and the as the bills start coming in.

Divine Appointments - that's what we call it - some call it coincidence.

I had been at the Vietnam Veterans Wall for nearly an hour, along with nearly 800 Run For The Wall riders and the general public, and other groups arriving for Rolling Thunder, and I was standing back, near the chain, trying to see my hubby who had gone to find a Park Service employee.

It was time to leave, I had held a Run For The Wall ceremony with several riders.

When a rider registers with Run For The Wall the first time, they are given a large button (pin) that say's FNG and is dated.  During the Vietnam War the term FNG meant the new guy was going to have to be trained, observed, and worked into the routine, which was a negative for the experienced warrior, so it was a derogatory term.  Run For The Wall has a tradition, we call them Fine New Guys or Gals, FNG, and the pin means that we will not take our eyes off of this rider, we will assist them when things get stressful, emotional, or difficult and we plan on standing with them at every challenge, including facing The Wall.

There are several methods for this, but once you've accomplished your mission getting to The Wall, your pin can be turned upside down and worn that way from this point on.  That Pin also gets the new rider into an incredible presentation at Arlington National Cemetery the Saturday we arrive, so it is treasured.

One of the things that has been done with that pin through the years, that I so appreciate, is if they are standing at The Wall and their pin is not upside down, we step up, welcome the rider HOME!  Then ask their permission to call this "mission complete."  Then ask their permission to turn the button upside down indicating they've arrived and we have a brief discussion about their ride, the reason they rode, and get to know each other on a heart-to-heart basis during the brief ceremony.  Everyone breaks at this point, you're aware of the families pushing strollers, babies sleeping, toddlers chattering, teens giggling, adults glancing but afraid to totally look on, peek into the ceremony, it's private, poignant yet, a necessity.

I stood in one place and looked for Pins that were still upright.  When I would see one, I would gently touch the arm of the Run For The Wall rider and ask, "You are here, are you ready to turn this pin upside down?"  I explain the significance of the Pin, chat with them about their ride, and we do the deed with tears.

Michelle and I crossed paths, I had probably already done about 8 FNG pins, when I turned and there she was, she nearly shouted, "All these people, and look who I'm standing beside."  We had ridden several legs of the trip side by side in the pack, she on her Harley me on my Yamaha sport bike, we kept pace like clockwork, and got a lot of comments on our riding abilities.  She is the young lady I mentioned - who is going to Kuwait in July for ANOTHER tour.

We hugged, smiled, stepped back and low and behold her PIN had not been turned.  I started shaking and crying.  I said, "Is your mission complete?  Are you ready to turn your button?  May I have the honor.?"  She said she would love for me to be the one to turn her Pin.  At that instant another lady rider stepped up, and took Michelle's camera to capture the moment, as we hugged and cried and my hands shook, I told Michelle, "This is more than a ceremony for you and me, this is an act of passing the baton on my part representing Run For The Wall and my generation, to you our current heroes, our willing warriors.  Carry on, you have our prayers and support."  I told her that she was my inspiration across country, she's the reason I ride and that:

Our Memorial is your Memorial until you have one of your own.

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.

Riding Separate from the pack - Run For The Wall

At breakfast in the hotel I met up with several riders who are riding separate from the pack today.

I'm still not 100% from a stomach something or other I've had the last few days, we have a little over 300 miles to get under our belts today and we're doing them in our own time, to conserve energy.

Others have necessary business to take care of before hitting the road, some have appointments at motorcycle dealerships so they want to get out ahead of the pack, in case their bikes don't make it to the dealership, they can be picked up by chase vehicles.

Run For The Wall is so organized and so challenging and everyone who has ridden with the group knows there will be times you need to break away and ride your own ride, for your own safety, sanity or for the safety and sanity of others, ha!!

I'm so thankful for the incredible leadership teams we have this year, all working so hard to make it a safe and successful journey.   I've learned to love and respect so many quality people that God has put in my path.

I remember our first Run when I had to ride separate from the pack after an anxiety attack coming down the mountain from Angel Fire, NM.  I'm so glad we rode separate that day, we ended the day seeing our son who lives in Denver, it gave me courage to ride the rest of the Run in the pack.  It can be very intimidating.

We left California yesteday - now in Arizona headed to Gallup New Mexico.

Well I joined the Chaplain's Corp as one of the 5 or 6 Chaplains who rode at the back in case of motorcycle incidents.  Chaplains are dropped off to make sure everyone is taken care of by first responders, and to keep the pack and traffic moving.

William Arizona loves Run For The Wall.  The community has traditionally welcomed us in style.  It's such beautiful country and small town atmosphere.  They are patriotic make a veteran proud.

SNOW - did I say snow.  Well this isn't a first for Run For The Wall on the Central Route, but yes, we had snow when we arrived in Williams.

It looked to be 2 to 4 inches depending on who you ask.

It was so weird seeing snow covered bikes, and knowing what they had to come through to arrive.

We finished over 400 miles with over 300 bikes and nearly 400 people with no incidents.  AMAZING

God is so good.

Now on to Gallup, NM

I had too much of the snow and the slushy arrival, ended up with a brief meltdown, headache, backache and not able to join the pack from Williams to Gallup.  We rode separately, and arrived minutes before a hail storm.

Another day of meetings, reunions and an opening banquet.

"It's all good," has become my theme.

Lot's of last minute details, but in the long run for the safety of everyone involved, we got 'er done.

Probably have close to 600 people registered now, it's raining, so lots of people hanging around hotel lobbies getting to know each other, catching up on stories and going over details of the ride.

Tonight's dinner is donated by various individuals and organizations.  Our California Coordinator(s) have been working hard all year making the California starting location exceptional.

The Board members have been asked to serve the meal at the opening ceremonies, and of course we all responded with a huge, "Of Course."

There are several important meetings today, as the new riders arrive, the returning riders will be meeting them, answering questions and getting them oriented.

Riders will pack and re-pack, check their bikes, fill them with fuel, and stand around motorcycles discussing all their individual customized parts and pieces.