Run for the Wall - Day 9

We are almost done with our mission. Tomorrow is our last day and final destination, the Vietnam War Memorial, otherwise known as, "The Wall". This is the memorial that we have all been riding towards these last 9 days. Our mission is almost complete.

Today we spent some more time in Wytheville, VA. We were treated to breakfast by the children of Spiller Elementary and then got to wander briefly around the Wytheville Museum where they have a temporary display of what Run for the Wall means to Wytheville and what Wytheville means to the Run for the Wall family. It was an awe-inspiring display in the museum. In a small area, they covered ten years worth of memories and friendship. If you have the chance within the next six months to visit Wytheville, VA, do so and make sure you take a trip to their museum. That tiny museum holds a tremendous amount of information, heck, you could probably spend a whole day there going through everything...

By 9 am the children of Spiller Elementary came down the hill to meet the riders. I am not sure who was more excited, the riders, or the children...actually...which was which? The teachers were trying to keep the children in line and get them down the hill in an orderly fashion. That order was in serious jeopardy when the riders, unable to contain themselves, briskly walked up the hill to greet the children. By then, the teachers lost control of the crowd and that is when the fun began. The children had made miniature dog tags for the riders and the riders, in return had various Run for the Wall items for the children. It was almost like Christmas in May...

After all the initial excitement, the children were lead to the front of Memorial Park for their portion of the patriotic presentation to the riders. The children sang patriotic songs for the riders, and there was not one dry eye in the house. It was a wonderful experience. If only more people taught their children these basic values, we would most likely not have all the problems in this country that we currently have. After the children's presentation, they were again allowed to mingle with the riders and some children were even placed on various motorcycles to the thrill of the child. Many pictures were taken and many more bonds were formed. It was with heavy hearts we left Wytheville to ride on towards our next series of stops.

We had a quick fuel stop, and then proceeded to Montvale Elementary for lunch with the children. If you couldn't tell, today was mostly spent with elementary school children, which is a wonderful experience for all riders. Some of the new riders were invited to sit in the children's classrooms and eat lunch with the child at their desk. The fun part about that is the size of the elementary school desks versus the size of the riders. I am always afraid that some riders may sit on the chairs and never be able to rise again... Since our numbers have grown so much, there is not enough room in all the classrooms for all the riders so veteran riders ate in the cafeteria.

After lunch we all re-assembled in the gym for the school's presentation to the Run for the Wall Riders. Again we were treated to many patriotic songs by the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders of Montvale Elementary. As if that were not enough to really tug at the heart-strings, there was a slide presentation to the tune of Toby Keith's "American Soldier". If you didn't cry during the children singing, this presentation definitely sent you over the edge. Again, this is a very special experience, and very difficult to adequately describe here. You truly have to be there to understand.

After Montvale, the riders climbed on their bikes and went to visit the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. This is an awe-inspiring sight and another MUST SEE if you are anywhere near the area. By now, we are emotionally spent, and looking forward to our last stop, the Salem, VA Medical Center for dinner and a brief visit with the residents. Then, it was off to our various hotels for some serious rest. Tomorrow will also be emotionally tough, we finally reach our mission destination, Washington, D.C. and the Vietnam Wall. There is excitement in the air, and everyone is having a bit of trouble calming down enough to rest for tomorrow.

If you want to read more specifics on what we did today, please visit http://www.rftwsr-2010.us/ or www.rftw.org/index.asp?lg=1pages&r=22&pid=116 and scroll down to the bottom of the page for the most current report.

Until tomorrow...