Run for the Wall - Day 4

Today started out nice and cool, but still very breezy. As the day warmed up, it got windier. For those of you that usually drive cars, windy days merely mean that when you exit your car, your hair gets blown around. On a motorcycle, a windy day takes on a whole new meaning. Strong winds feel like someone is whacking you all over your body. Your head gets bounced around, your body gets pummeled and you have problems holding onto the bike and not drifting into another traffic lane in a strong cross-wind. Today was one of THOSE days. I am really tired and feel like I had a good work-out.

Today we started the day by visiting the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Odessa, Texas. Actually, we started the day with a great breakfast at the American Legion Earl S. Bailey Post 430. Our bellies were quite full when we hopped on our bikes to go the 15 miles to the Permian Basin Memorial. There we were greeted by some of the founding people of this Memorial. There were several heart-wrenching stories told about sacrafices the mothers made when their sons chose to join the military and did not return home. There were not many dry eyes after one mother told her story of losing one son, and then having her other son choose to join the military also. It is a tale that many have heard and dealt with before, but it still is heart-wrenching. The Wreath Laying Ceremony was wonderful to watch, and it was great to see how this Memorial is growing up. When we first visited it years ago, there was the basic monument and helicopter out there. Each year we come and find more has been added, this is a magnificent monument and is a "Must See" for anyone visiting the Odessa, Texas area.

We then went on to Big Spring, Texas to view another Veteran's Memorial and lay a wreath there. The pictures today are from the Big Spring Veteran's Memorial. This is another place that, if you are in the area, is a wonderful and breath-taking place to visit. After Big Spring, we rode to one of our favorite lunch stops in Colorado City.

In years past, we used to visit the Colorado City Middle school there, but as our group has gotten larger, we have moved our visit to the Railhead Building in Historic Colorado City. This is a really neat building, and the streets surrounding it are just barely large enough to hold all of the motorcycles that love to come and visit. I would also like to point out that the children that come to feed the riders and put on a presentation for the riders are coming in on their day off, a Saturday. When we are on the run, we sometimes forget what day it is, these children feel it is so important to visit with the veterans, that they are willing to give up one of their Saturdays to be with us. The presentation this year was even better than last year, and we thought that last year's presentation by the children was awesome. This year, many of us couldn't stop tearing up as the children talked with the veterans and stood in front of over 300 of us to give their presentation, "Walk of Heros". Their music by their Jazz band was awesome, they had singer and song-writer Elliott Park come and sing two of the songs he personally wrote related to veterans and heck, I had trouble not balling my eyes out...

After a wonderful lunch put on by many of the community of Colorado City, we carefully (because our bellies were again stuffed past capacity) got on our bikes and headed out to the afternoon fuel stop in Cisco, TX. We quickly fueled and then got back on the bikes to head to our evening stop in Weatherford, TX. There we were able to meet some of our dear friends of the American Legion Post 163. I got to meet one of my many "boy friends", Chuck Katlic, who is a veteran of World War II and a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge. Chuck received a Bronze Star for Valor in Combat from that fight. Chuck serves not only as Chaplain of the Post, but is actively teaching the local children about veterans and is seen throughout the community helping the children place flags at the Veterans' Cemetary on a regular basis. Chuck assures me that our Country will survive in spite of itself. He is a wonderful man to talk with and I miss being able to spend more time with him.

After we gorged ourselves yet again on the wonderful dinner put on by the Post, we all headed off to our respective hotel rooms to get some much needed rest in anticipation of Day 5 of Run for the Wall.

If you want to read more about the Southern Route trips, please visit the Sit Reps or go to http://www.rftwsr-2010.us/.

Until tomorrow...