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. 

Motorcycle Riders are on their way to Run For The Wall's starting location.

Here we go.  People are leaving home, packed and ready to ride Run For The Wall.

The web page www.rftw.org has a link called Runs to the Run, groups of riders are meeting up via the net, and the Forum, and riding to California for the organized ride that leaves next Wednesday.

In California next Wednesday hundreds of riders will leave Rancho Cucamonga headed across country in an event that celebrates it's 23rd year.  To ride with this group is such an honor it's hard to put into words.  Just standing back and watching the riders who are joining for the first time integrate into the group, ask questions, pack and repack, and get photos ... knowing how much work and preparation goes into the final project, gives me pause.

I'm praying for safety for all the riders on their way, and for a wonderful trip to THE WALL.

Pictures posted on Facebook of Run For The Wall in Corydon

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LINK TO CORYDON INDIANA'S PICTURES

So many communities welcome Run For The Wall each day of the ride.  I've come up with some numbers.

There is 1 Run For The Wall.
There are 2 Routes, Central and Southern
Each Route has 3 chase vehicles that help with down bikes and riders
There are 4 extra days that RFTW participants are together - 2 in California for orientation/training and a mini reunion, and 2 in DC for the visit to the Wall and Rolling Thunder.
Each Route has 5 people in the Lead Element called the Missing Man Formation. 

|  | the first two bikes, Left leading, Route Coordinator Right - State Coordinator (changes each State)
|    this rider rides with a "missing man" to his right (this position changes each leg of the Run

|  | the Route Chaplain and Missing Man Coordinator ride these two spots


Each Route has 6 platoons made up of motorcycles, and one with motorcycles that pull trailers or trikes.
There are 7 Board of Directors for Run For The Wall, Inc.

After leaving California the Southern Route stops in 8 more states.

Once they leave California Central Route goes through 9 states. (see the map of both routes here)

The ride itself is 10 days.  We leave on a Wednesday and arrive on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.

We registered 620 people in California for the 2010 Run.
Not all of them traveled all the way to DC with us.
Southern Route registerd an additional 700 + people and CR almost another 700 across country.

The Routes totaled over 90 stops for Fuel or to visit VA Hospitals, Veterans Memorials or Schools or to overnight in a community.  That's over 90 communities across America that HOST Run For The Wall.

Pretty impressive.  Can you tell we love what Run For The Wall does for Veterans with a TOTAL VOLUNTEER STAFF!!

Thank you America!!

My Run For The Wall Mascot stayed at the Wall Friday Night

I'm listing the items that Sugarbear - my "mascot" for RFTW 2010 collected across country.

A flag pin in the shape of the USA Top Left Lapel
A RFTW 20th Anniversary POW, American Flag Pin (Bottom Left)
A 2003 (that was my first RFTW) HonorBound Motorcycle Ministry Pin (top right lapel)
A 2010 RFTW Pin (on the back by the miniature RFTW backpatch)
A 2010 Rancho Cucamonga, CA pin
Beads handed to us somewhere along the route signifying POW/MIA and American Flag colors
A Psalm 91 Scripture Dog Tag and a Cross Penny hanging with it.

 Still smiling after thousands of miles!!

It looks like my mascot is waving good bye.  The bear started out white, but rode on my motorcycle tank bag all the way across country, without a bath.  I see the reflection in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, it was emotional.  I have other pictures coming, my cell phone didn't do the greatest here.

Run For The Wall (May 24, 2010)

TRUCK

We give each other road names.  Don't know how he got his, but this time last year, TRUCK was asked to be honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery, laying the wreath for Run For The Wall.  We were all so honored watching him our guest of Run For The Wall, a new participant who is still active duty military.  He stood alongside a veteran rider of Run For The Wall, "Manybikes" guess how he got his name.  This guy works his heart out getting us off the right exit as we roll down interstates across country, then stands in a salute as we follow his directions, with a sweet grin on his face.

This year I had the opportunity to get to know both riders a little better.  I had the honor and privilege of working with Manybikes at registration in California.  We registered 620 riders, whew, fast and furious!!

 Here's a pic of TRUCK in front of somebody's RV all decked out for Run For The Wall!!


Then TRUCK was asked to step up to the 6-pack, a group that rides just behind the lead element, keeping an open space called a POCKET, for the Road Guards to come in and out.  I had the distinct honor of pacing many of our riders that were active duty as we rolled down the highways of this great country - wish everyone could see the AMERICA I SEE on Run For The Wall, does the heart good.




me

on the 9th day - RAIN

Stormin!!

I do have a theory.  Thunderstorms build over motorcycle events.  If we stayed in one place long enough we would have them after a day or two.  Every event we attend has a day or two of storms!!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  No-o-o-o this isn't my photography it's google images... I wish I had taken this pic, I'd be famous (and retired).

It did storm to day on the riders - in the mountains - but ya know what?  I still haven't heard complaints - we ain't completed the mission till we go to the WALL on Saturday, and nothing is stopping us now.  Who's got time to complain.

Dinner with friends in a a few hours, a good night's sleep, staging for one more day together, greetings in DC by the Southern Route tomorrow afternoon, and Friday Night and All Day Saturday events ... and we all start our goodbyes.

Another year of planning, has worked its way into a safe, memorable, healing mission for our warriors, Veterans of the US Military!  Thank you and Welcome Home soldier.

Corydon, Indiana to Hurricane WV

Today we gear up for the VA hospital in Louisville, and the Memorial in Frankfort.  Both are equally rewarding and emotional, then end up with a long leg to Hurricane West Virginia.  Several surprises in Mt. Sterling KY this year also.  Will blog on all this later.

When I entered the lobby of the VA hospital in Louisville today the first think I saw was a very large plaque with Robley Rex's likeness in bronze and a dedication to his volunteer service.  It was extremely moving, as the Hospital has changed it's name in his honor.  We were greeted by him every year our first 6 years on Run For The Wall, and he passed away last year a few days before the Run.  There was a memorial patch made last year, and I see it on many biker vests. 

Here's one article about him: 

Robley Henry Rex, a World War I-era Army veteran renowned and beloved for his volunteer service to other veterans, died today at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Louisville just four days short of his 108th birthday.
Rex was born May 2, 1901 [This is incorrect according to emailer JT Major. Rex lied about his age when he enlisted and was actually born January 2, 1903. I guess that would make him 106? -S] in Hopkinsville. He credited his longevity to his wife of 69 years, the former Gracie Bivins, who died in 1992 at age 91.
"I married the right woman," Rex always said. He called her "the smartest woman in the world."
The two met at Camp Taylor in Louisville in 1919 before he was sent overseas with the Army. They married in 1922 when he returned to the United States.
Rex was "delightful, bubbly and an energetic, fun guy to be around," retired Brig. Gen. Les Beavers, commissioner the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs from 1998 until December, told The Courier-Journal a few years ago. Beavers had shared the stage with Rex at many veterans ceremonies.
"Robley not only had a long life, but a quality life. It was an honor to know him," Beavers said....

I broke out of the pack today to get out of the heat ... this has definitely been the hottest RFTW we've done, but before breaking away we experienced the first Mt Sterling free fuel, free lunch.  Every year for 21 years Run For The Wall has had lunch and fuel on your own in this fine city.  This year the mayor told Run For The Wall, "We've ignored you, when you came through our town, long enough.  We want to welcome you."

9 families lost a loved one in Vietnam from their community, and 7 of the families were represented at our lunch.  The lunch was pork loin sandwiches - wow what a great lunch, what a great community, and good job Garth Vinson, KY State Coordinator.  THANKS Mt. Sterling for the fuel and lunch.

Wentzville to Corydon Indiana

Off to Mt Vernon and then to Corydon.  We are the State Coordinators for Indiana, and we have great friends from a couple of Assembly of God churches in the Evansville area providing hydration and snacks, etc at the Evansville Indiana gas stop today, plus CORYDON, IN really turns out when we arrive. 

Mt. Vernon Illinois is always a great lunch stop and fuel!!  We hope to rejoin the pack there today.  This is the first time in 8 years we haven't made it to the Jefferson Barracks, we'll miss it but Russ has to get his strength back before we ride, safety first.

Hated to miss the VFW in Wentzville last night too - they always do a good meal and ceremony. 

me!

Junction City to Wentzville, MO

Our son lives in Kansas temporarily, so he was able to come to our fuel stop in Topeka and meet a lot of the fine folks from Run For The Wall.  He got some pictures of us leaving and standing around on break, I'll see if he wants to share them here.  Thanks for coming out Ken, and thank you for your service to our country, (4 years in the Navy.)

Going through Kansas City escorted by so many law enforcement was quite an honor.  Not sure the pack could find the right lane and the right exits without such an incredible escort.  Of course our fearless leader is from the area, so we know he could've gotten us there, but the escort was impressive, thanks guys!!

It was so awesome to be close enough to the front to watch the ballet dance that motor cops do as they weave in and out, stopping traffic at the on-ramps and pass the pack at very high speed, then rejoin their group in the front.  STAY ALERT was the word of the day.

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE - how many times do we hear this from each other and fellow riders.

Well, Monday (day 6) took a major toll on Russ.

He was overheated at lunch.  I could tell he was winding down, and several of us showed concern, he finally got cooled off enough to ride the next 160 miles out of the pack (ahead of them).  We arrived at the hotel hours before the pack, he went to bed at 4 PM and now at 8:00 AM is in the shower, ready for a short day.  We'll meet the pack at lunch in Mt Vernon Illinois and decide from there if we're going all-the-way.  The heat and humidity are giving him labored breathing, he's a little congested which may be adding to the breathing problem.  He's so exhausted, it worries me.

We love Run For The Wall because of the healing it has brought us and the friends that we have made over the 8 years we've been involved, but we gotta be wise in the decisions we make about continuing.

Goodland KS to Junction City, KS

Yesterday we dealt with wind most of the afternoon, the rider behind me said my bike was riding at a 45 degree angle all the way across Kansas!  Go figure - wind in Kansas.

Here's a pic I took after Breakfast at Goodland (riders meeting with Platoon Leaders) this morning,  The platoons get their final instructions before we head out across more of Kansas.  We had so much open space that platoons looked tiny, they had several clusters of riders out in the open air.  We don't know what to do with so much space on Run For The Wall!!

Goodland really turned out - it's so amazing to see small towns come out on their lawns, step out to the curb, come downtown to the center of their hometowns and greet us waving flags, holding banners, honking horns, truly a heroes welcome for all the HEROES in our pack ... always outstanding job.  Thank you Goodland.

So fun seeing Kevin's bike set up for Registration ... we've got people trained now to look for his bike - and the wonderful canopy supplied by Annie - super job.

We were promised more than last year in Junction City, and oh my goodness, I wish there was a way to take pictures and ride (well there probably is but it wouldn't be safe for me to attempt it).  We rode into a town that had people out all along our route, then when we hit the intersection that took us to their memorial park, there were so many people holding full size flags, narrowing our path to simply just enough room to ride through flags, it was a RED, WHITE and BLUE tearful event, I could hear sobs over the rumble of bikes ...