Run for the Wall is Near

Tonight's brief discussion is on the upcoming event called Run for the Wall. This is an annual event that begins in Rancho Cucomonga, Californa and ends the Friday before Memorial Day in Washington, D.C. It is a 10-day motorcycle trip across this wonderful country of ours that takes you through either the Southern or Central parts of the United States. It is an event that I have personally particpated in for the last 6 consecutive years and all of those years I went "all the way" to Washington, D.C.

Some of you may think that this is just like any other motorcycle rally, but this is an Event, it is not a club, it is not a rally. The mission statement for Run for the Wall (RFTW) is "To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world."

They strive to maintain a safe, supportive and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning. It is very difficult to explain the feelings you experience while participating in RFTW, but talk to anyone who has participated, and you will see a misty look in their eyes. Once you participate in RFTW, you become part of a wonderful, extended family that will not forget you and truly cares about your personal well-being.

I am not a veteran, but have found that you do not need to be a veteran to be involved with RFTW. Anyone who believes in and supports our Troops is welcome. As RFTW travels across either the Central or Southern United States, they have planned stops at various elementary schools, memorials, veterans hospitals, Legion Halls, veteran centers, etc. At many of the stops, we spend time and talk with the people in the area, usually they are lining the roads and waving flags as we arrive. There is nothing more awe-inspring as after a long day in the motorcycle saddle, than to pull into an area to stop, and have both sides of the street lined with people waving, clapping, taking photographs, holding signs and pictures and just having a wonderful time, because we are there.

By participating in Run for the Wall, even if not for the full legnth of the trip, you get a true view of America and her people. We have seen many, many people in uniform standing at attention as we pass by. We have met people who have not just served in Vietnam, but also World War II, Korea, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. We have had the opportunity to talk with some Navajo Code Talkers, Baatan Death March survivors, Pearl Harbor Survivors, POW's and those who survived the Battle of the Bulge (not the battle around your wasteband...). It is inspiring and humbling to hear their first-hand accounts of what they endured.

If you have an opportunity to even ride for a day with RFTW, the specific itinerary is listed on their website - www.rftw.org. You can quickly see where each route goes, and the itinerary is very specific. Even if you are unable to ride, you may have the opportunity to watch us ride by, again the itinerary is very accurate for dates and times. Please wave if you see us wander by, we will wave back. This is an event that anyone who supports our Troops should try at least once in their lifetime. It will change your view of the world.

We hope to see you along the road.

Until Friday...

Run for the Wall - Day 10

Well, as expected, I did not have the time or the energy to get online at all yesterday. We had a 239 mile ride into Washington, D.C. We had breakfast at the American Legion in Roanoke beginning at 5:15 am and then we got ready to roll by 7:30 am. We had our final morning meeting, along with the ceremony of letting all the FNG's become veterans of Run for the Wall. This was our last time for a riders meeting for 2010 and we were already getting sad.

Even with that sadness, there was excitement in the air. We were within striking distance of Washington, D.C. and looking forward to the end of our 10-day odyssey. There were two fuel stops between the time we left Roanoke and got to D.C. and as we reached our last fuel stop, the riders were almost "chomping at the bit" in anticipation of heading into Washington, D.C.

Our last fuel stop was in Front Royal this year, which was a first time for me. The weather looked kind of bad, but it did not rain, despite all the dire predictions. As we were resting in Front Royal, (since the last leg into D.C. was anticipated to be grueling...) sandwiches and drinks were provide for extra energy. Boy, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches never tasted so good. I love peanut butter and jelly, but these sandwiches tasted extra special. Thanks to those that took the time to make the sandwiches to keep us all alert for our last leg in.

The final ride into Washington, D.C. was a bit exciting, but nothing we could not handle after 9 full days on the road from California. As we rolled into the parking lot across from the host hotel, we were enthusiastically greeted by the early Southern Route arrivals. Those people who got into Arlington, ahead of the main pack made sure to line the street to applaud and yell encouragement for the main body of the Southern Route. After we all parked our bikes, there was a lot of hugging and congratulating each other for a mission accomplished. Knowing that we all had different responsibilities upon reaching our destination, we made sure to exchange contact information so we could stay in touch over the year.

What I found really energizing was all the people already counting the days to Run for the Wall XXIII. The riders were sad that our official mission has been completed, but they were already looking forward to next year's mission.

After the Southern Route got checked into their respective hotels, many came back to the host hotel prior to the arrival of the Central Route riders. It was fun to see so many riders lining the street looking up the street in anticipation of the arrival of the Central Route. As their headlights finally appeared at the top of the off-ramp, the Southern Route riders began clapping and cheering excitedly. It is wonderful to finally re-combine the two Routes and have Run for the Wall one complete group once again. As the Central Route riders parked their bikes, several of the Southern Route riders went over to congratulate them too. More back slapping and hugging occurred and then more contact information was exchanged. In all, it was a very successful ride for both the Southern and Central Routes of Run for the Wall XXII.

We are glad to have completed our mission, but are sad because the time together this year is coming to a close. In the evening many riders went to the Marine Barracks, Washington at 8th & I to watch the Evening Parade. If you have never attended the Evening Parade, it is something that you really must make the time to view. Even though it rained prior to the start of the Evening Parade, the Marines determined the rain was not that bad and did not cancel the event. As they were demonstrating their skills, the skies opened up once again, but the Marines did not even miss a beat. Despite sitting out on bleachers in the rain, even the spectators did not wish to leave until the conclusion of the Evening Parade. Damp though we were, we all had a wonderful time.

Another group of riders who did not wish to go to the Marine Barracks this time were lead to the Vietnam Memorial for an evening vigil. They too got rained on, but they did enjoy the evening visit.

If you wish to read more about what occurred on Day 10 and see some pictures, please visit http://www.rftwsr-2010.us/. There will be at least two more postings tomorrow, one for the After-Action report, and then the speech by Mark Peterson from Wytheville, VA.

Until tomorrow...

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...

Run for the Wall - Day 8

Wow, it is already Day 8 of a 10 day trip across the country. Where did the time go? This is super scary, I have been on a motorcycle for 8 days now and am wondering where the days went? Hmmm, too much time in the saddle?

Today was again a beautiful day. Last night, after I finished posting, I walked outside for a little fresh air before heading off to bed. There had been storm clouds gathering in the horizon, and I was also interested in seeing how close they had come. Well, as I looked up, I saw the clouds were much closer, but they had actually formed a semi-circle around where we were all staying for the night. I don't know if I have mentioned my theory of the "Happy Bubble", but this was one instance where it really looked like the "Happy Bubble" was working. It looked like the clouds just circled the area we were in, but no rain fell at night.

The day dawned clear and cool, a welcome relief from the heat we had been traveling through. Actually, after we left the Harley dealership, we rolled through a fog bank that was very chilly. It was almost time to stop and put on warmer clothes. Again, it was such a welcome change from the humid heat we had been dealing with.

Before we left the Harley Dealership, the Run for the Wall participants were able to have a wreath laying ceremony in the old Confederate Cemetery adjacent to the Harley shop. This cemetery is quite old, and up until this year, had been falling into disrepair. The funds for the repairs to the cemetery are completely private, so things had been tight for some time. Because the cemetery was declining, last year the riders were not permitted to tromp through this piece of history. This year though, the local community was able to raise enough money to stabilize more of the cemetery and allowed the Run for the Wall riders to wander around these hallowed grounds. There are 155 soldiers buried in this cemetery, but they were not killed in that specific location. Apparently, these people came from the various hospitals in the area. Since the cemetery is so old, records were lost, may have become unreadable, or may not ever have been kept. It has been a challenge for the local groups to try to identify the soldiers buried here and to learn where these warriors were from.

Finding the lost and killed in action is near and dear to Run for the Wall participants, so visiting this cemetery is very fitting. We celebrate every time one more has been identified, and we are even gratified to discover that the local community was even able to place grave markers on the identified graves. We are coming closer to identifying the missing in action from the Civil War, and then notifying the family where there loved one was placed to rest.

After the wreath laying ceremony, we rode to the TA Truck Stop in Knoxville, TN for some much enjoyed donuts and coffee. After that we went to Davey Crockett Truck Stop in Baileyton, TN for a very quick gas and go. Our real objective was to get to Black Wolf Harley-Davidson where lunch was waiting for us. The Harley shop is gracious enough to feed the road weary travelers and help us stay energized along our way to Washington, D.C.

After much anticipation, we finally arrived in one of our most special towns, Wytheville, VA. This town opens their hearts and homes to us every year we come through. This year is particulary special because Wytheville is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Run for the Wall stopping by. We have been forewarned that tomorrow morning ceremonies are something not to miss.

In light of that, I am closing this blog so that I can get some much needed rest and can enjoy the morning's ceremonies too. If you want to read more about what happened today on the Run, please feel free to visit http://www.rftwsr-2o1o.us/.

Until tomorrow...

Run for the Wall - Day 7

Now that I am caught up, it is midnight and I have yet to get some sleep. 4:30 comes very quickly, so this segment will be brief. If you would like to read a full accounting of what happened today, please see www.rftwsr-2010.us. We have the full "Sit Reps" posted there along with pictures and some commentary.

Today we started in Meridian, Mississippi with a great breakfast provided by the wonderful citizens of Meridian. There were tables upon tables of baked muffins, breads, coffee, juice, SWEET TEA (I LOVE Sweet Tea) and water. Being polite, we took just one or two muffins, but the residents of Meridian kept pushing more and more muffins on us. I am starting to wonder if all the people at all the stops think we are underfed. They do such a great job of feeding us, pretty soon we are not going to be able to get back on our motorcycles. We will need cranes to lift our over-filled bellies onto our motorcycles so that we can ride off into the sunset (or in this current case, we are riding away from the Sunset - east...). Of course I am a major sucker for baked muffins, so I ate too much...again... but it is so wonderful, you can't help yourself...

Today was a relatively long day of riding, 322 miles so we don't have too much stopping to do. After Meridian, we rode to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to visit the VA Center/Hospital there. This is one of the few places that strive to serve all of us a balanced and healthy lunch. After lunch, we were able to wander around and visit with some of the people at the medical center and thank them for what they have sacrificed for our freedoms. It is touching to see these veterans here, on the mend. Some of the older residents do have stories to tell. Unfortunately, we cannot stay to spend a lot of time, so sadly we leave the VA Center to head off to another fun city, Ashville, AL.

We stop at the Piggley-Wiggley (I love the name of this chain of grocery stores..) and got to meet the mascot, Piggley-Wiggley. The residents of Ashville provided the tastiest hot dogs I have had in years. Actually, it is the best hot dog I have had in a year...I at hot dogs there last year too...

Anyway, after eating yet again (our mid-afternoon snack...) we then climbed back on the bikes to go to Chattanooga, TN for our evening stop. There we were treated to....DINNER... do you get the idea that we travel on our stomachs? It's true, we do... While dinner is being served we watched some more ceremonies (you can go to www.rftwsr-2010.us for the specifics) and then it is off to bed for everyone except me... Here I am typing away... and now it is time for me to hit the sack too. Tomorrow I will type a little better...

Until tomorrow...

Run for the Wall - Day 6

I didn't post Day 6 yesterday when it happened because I was so tired by the end of the day that I fell asleep before I could even turn on the computer.

Day 6 may not have been a whole lot of miles, but it was hot, and the riding was stressful. We had a semi-truck get a flat tire while driving past our platoon, and as the truck rolled by me, I was eye-to-eye with a flapping truck tire. That is a scary experience when in a car, it is so much more frightening when on a motorcycle. Luckily, the truck driver realized very quickly he had a flat, and managed to get off the highway before the whole tire tread (which was flapping dangerously close to us) flung off the rim. Those treads are very heavy, and if it came flying off, it could very easily have seriously injured at least one rider. We were very blessed to only be pelted with small pieces of rubber from the sidewalls and bits of tire belting.

I am not normally a superstitious person, but prior to the run, some of us were blessed enough to receive small ceramic tokens made by a Nun in Oregon. This Nun made them and prayed over them for our safe travels. I would like to believe that that token, along with the regular blessings of the bikes that we receive at several stops kept us from serious harm. All the prayers were put to the test when that tire blew...

The big event for us was the visit to Jackson, Mississippi. We spend almost 5 hours at the Jackson Harley-Davidson dealership there because the owner, Earl, makes sure there is more than enough for us to see. Of significant note is his "Trail of Honor - A Tribute to American Veterans". The "Trail of Honor" is created only for three days, and Earl makes sure it is there for Run for the Wall. The "Trail of Honor" is a walk through the forest behind the Harley dealership and it includes representatives and replicas of all wars that the United States has been involved with, up to and including the War on Terror. What is really neat about this Trail of Honor is that there are period re-enactors at each station, with implements from that period of time. All you have to do is to stop and begin asking questions. The people at each of the spots are extremely knowledgeable about the period that they are in. It is a wonderful course in American History. I could easily spend all day walking around the trail asking all kinds of questions and still not get enough.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Jackson Harley-Davidson right before Memorial Day, try to come by when Earl has the Trail of Honor open for all to see. It is an awe-inspiring sight and an awesome education. I wish that we could spend more time there visiting, but we still have so many miles to cover, we can't stay too long in Jackson, Mississippi. Each year, Earl makes an effort to out-do what he has done in prior years. It is awe inspiring to see how he consistently improves the experience for everyone visiting his dealership.

If you would like more information and pictures on the Southern Route Run for the Wall, please visit http://www.rftwsr-2010.us/.

Until tomorrow...

Back to the Day 6, today we

Run for the Wall - Day 5

Well, we are now officially half the way completed with Run for the Wall. We completed Day 5 of a 10 day trip across the country. It is amazing, we wait for a year for this event, and in the blink of an eye, we are already half-way done. Where did the time go? This is when you want to slow down time and try to enjoy more of those moments in time. The last 4 days are already starting to get blurry for me. If I didn't have the daily reports to refer back to, I would not remember which day we did stuff in.

Today we left Weatherford, TX under wonderfully cloudy skies. For those of you that are outdoors enough, you know that a warm day is much nicer when there are clouds in the sky. It doesn't get as hot as it could. At is was, I am learning how much I forgot what humidity feels like. I have lived in Arizona for almost 8 years and very easily adapted to the single digit humidity. Out here in Texas, it is HUMID. My clothes are sticking to me...yuch... Makes me really appreciate where I live... That is not to say I don't like Texas, I love the green grass, green trees, pretty much anything green. What I don't care for is the clothes sticking to you. The wonderful people here in Texas and Louisiana more than make up for the uncomfortable humidity though.

From Weatherford, TX we went to Terrell, Texas where we picked up a ton of riders. Actually, I don't know for a fact they were a "ton", but there were quite a few riders waiting for us when we got there. These riders traditionally meet us here in Terrell and then either ride the rest of the way to Washington, D.C. with us or turn back before Monroe. Terrell had another wonderful welcome for the Run for the Wall riders. We had all kinds of home made snacks, fresh fruit, drinks, water, munchies, etc. It seemed like the whole town of Terrell turned out to wish the riders well also. After gassing and munching and participating in a brief awards ceremony, it was off to Longview, TX for our lunch stop.

In Longview, we got to meet some of our old friends. It is so much fun for me to go to a city once a year and have people remember me from the prior year. Not only do they remember, but they end up giving you a bone-crunching hug too. This is the best therapy anybody can receive. The emotions are not held back, it is OK to be happy, it is OK to hug people when you are glad to see them, it is even OK to cry during speeches and some songs. Everyone on the run is going through similar types of emotions. That is what makes this run so healing for everybody. It is OK to show your emotions, you are among family, and that family wants to help and support you. You are not alone either emotionally or physically when you are on Run for the Wall. People respect your space, but they are right there when you need them the most. Can you imagine how much nicer the world would be if we all treated each other like this ALL the time?

We were well fed in Longview, TX and had time to visit with friends before we had to climb back on the motorcycles and head for a quick gas-and-go in Minden, LA. After two and a half days we finally got out of Texas. Not that I don't like Texas, but as you are riding your motorcycle along the highway, you wonder if you are ever going to leave the state.

After Minden, LA we headed for our much anticipated evening and dinner stop in Monroe, LA. I love coming here, it is the first time I can really fill my belly up with good southern style cooking. My mother is from Louisiana, and I really miss her cooking. I make up for all that, when we come to Monroe. I make sure to get some home made gumbo, rice and beans, pecan pie, fried catfish, fried fish, hush puppies...(one of these days I may tell you the origins of the 'hush puppies') and then tables upon tables of other desserts... I even got to get a huge cup of my favorite, Sweet Tea. It seems the South is the only place that can make Sweet Tea. Once you leave Texas and head west, the western version of sweet tea is to get regular tea and pour sugar in it. That is NOT how sweet tea works. I don't quite know how they make the tea taste so good, but boy, is it great. You can easily get addicted to Sweet Tea.

After we all gorged ourselves on some real down-home Louisiana cooking we were treated to an awards ceremony and then some singing by this absolutely amazing 9-year old girl. The way she sang the Star Spangled Banner, with such feeling and meaning, it really made you cry. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when she finished singing. After that, she sang Amazing Grace, and for those guys that didn't cry during the National Anthem, they went over the edge for Amazing Grace. This young woman had an amazing stage presence and acted more mature than many adults I know.... If she continues her singing career, she will go very far.

After dinner, the riders, now completely stuffed to the gills, tried to climb back onto their bikes (some of us had our bellies so big, only the belly got on the bike, the rest of the body couldn't quite get up in the saddle...) and head off to our respective hotel rooms for some well-earned rest. Tomorrow is going to be an amazing day, we head to Jackson, Mississippi, and you know that Earl of Jackson Harley-Davidson will have something very special for us there.

If you want to read specific information on our ride, please go to www.rftwsr-2010.us . Our daily "Sit Reps" and pictures are located there.

Until tomorrow...

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...

Run for the Wall - Day 3

It is amazing how tired you are after 2 long days of riding. Day 1 was 330 miles long, Day 2 was 400 miles and today was 341 miles. We have completed 1,071 miles in three days. Pretty good when you are moving over 300 people at the time... This morning dawned bright and a little cool, but we knew that the cool air would not last very long. The sky was clear, and the sun was hot and bright.

We ate a great breakfast at the VFW Post in the morning and had our morning briefing. We sang a belated "Happy Birthday" to "Baron" and embarrassed the daylights out of him. That was a lot of fun... After the morning briefing we were lead by police escort to the Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park for a Wreath Laying Ceremony. It may seem like we attend a lot of ceremonies during our run across country, but these ceremonies don't take long and are very much needed for our veterans. The veterans are finally receiving the respect and appreciation they should have been given when they came back from fighting in Vietnam. We also got to visit with some World War II veterans at Las Cruces. Talking to these veterans is better than reading any history book. These veterans saw what was going on, and can provide you with a first-hand accounting of what they saw along with what they felt. You cannot get that kind of emotion from any book or audio tape, you need to be able to look into the eyes of a veteran and listen to them talk. Then, most importantly, you need to thank them for their service to our country. If it was not for them, we would not have the freedoms we have today.

After the Wreath Laying Ceremony in Las Cruces, NM, we all climbed (some of us creaked) onto our motorcycles and began the next leg of our trip to Clint, Texas. There we had a quick fuel stop (donated by some wonderful people) and then we were back on the road heading to Van Horn, TX where we had a great lunch provided by the New Life Restoration Center of El Paso, Texas. Again, we got back on the motorcycles and rode off to Pecos, TX for another donated fuel stop. We had to wait in Pecos a little extra time to watch an especially bad storm pass. Once the worst part of the storm moved across the highway, we all climbed back onto our motorcycles and rode between storm cells into Odessa, TX where a wonderful catfish and all the "fixin's" dinner was served. The "fixin's" included fried chicken, hush puppies (they were AWESOME and made just right), cole slaw, beans and french fries. That was topped off with delicious cake and home made ice cream. I had a very hard time climbing back onto my bike to head off to our evening hotel (my belly got in the way...).

I would like to note that our Platoon (Platoon 6) had our very own Police Escort today through El Paso, TX. It is really cool to have the police riding motorcycles with their lights flashing, keeping cars away from us. It made us feel really safe and very special.

The weather was very good all day, except after the afternoon fuel stop. We had some bad rain cross the highway, which we missed, but the 4-wheeler Platoon, which was held up waiting for one of theirs to get two new axles, had to play dodge-em with a tornado. Apparently the tornado touched down near them, then a massive lightning strike hit a commercial building and set it on fire. I am very glad the other motorcyclists were not there to witness that, it would have been a very frightening experience.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures from the run, tonight my camera is still on the motorcycle and I don't want to go out in this horrible wind and dust just to retrieve the camera.

If you would like to view the detailed Sit Reps for the Southern Route, click here, if you would like to view both the Central and Southern Sit Reps, then go to www.rftw.org and click on Sit Reps and then choose which route's Sit Reps you would like to read.

Until tomorrow...

Run for the Wall - Day 2

Today when we got up, it was not hot. That is a statement that when made in the Phoenix, Arizona area this time of year would get a whole lot of eyebrows raised. It was actually a tad chilly this morning. Usually, around this time of year, at 5:30 in the morning, the temperatures are in the upper 80's already. It had to be in the low 70's when we started out for staging this morning.

Today was a long day, a total of 400 miles, and we were not sure how hot it was going to get. The weather was reporting close to 100 degrees today, but you never know for sure until you actually get going. Also, going 400 miles with now over 300 of your closest friends on motorcycles, can get to be stressful. For us, thankfully, the leadership of Run for the Wall made every effort again this year to ease our stress of travels. We had police escort in California yesterday, and police escort in Arizona today. It is really nice to have police escorts, they help keep the cars out of the motorcycle pack (and with 300+ riders, that is critical). We are sorry to have caused any people trying to drive to work additional strain, but we only do this once a year and we try to be as considerate as possible, by getting out of town as quickly as possible.

After our breakfast and morning travel, we ended up in Marana, AZ (about 35 miles north of Tucson) for a brief fueling of motorcycles and more hydration. We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to drink enough water during these next few days through the heat of the desert. At each stop we all make sure the other riders are drinking enough water to get them to the next stop. It is so easy to dehydrate and get heat exhaustion, even though today, it was not very hot (probably in the mid- to upper 90's) by Arizona standards. After Marana, we went to one of our favorite lunch stops, Willcox, AZ.

We were again greeted by the Willcox Police Department (not in a bad way, they came to guide us into their town) and we had an excellent lunch at the Elks Lodge. After meeting and eating lunch with our friends in Willcox, we got back on the bikes again and headed off to Savoy, NM.

In Savoy, the truck stop we usually stop at was having a grand opening. Instead of having us go elsewhere, the wonderful people at the Savoy truck stop not only provided us use of all their pumps for about 30 minutes, but also provided the riders free drinks. We were eternally grateful because it was starting to finally get warm on the road. In too short a time, we had to get back on our bikes for our next eagerly anticipated stop, Las Cruces, NM.

We stopped at Barnett's Harley-Davidson in Las Cruces, NM, and even before we got to the off-ramp, we saw the huge United States Flag hanging from the Fire Department's Ladder truck. It was truly a sight to behold. The owner of the Pic Quick gas station donated fuel for all the riders (which is totally awesome!!!) and then we rode towards Barnett's Harley-Davidson. Before we could even pull into their driveway, you could smell the food they were cooking for the riders. We were greeted by the National Guard and were entertained by some wonderful performers. Now that we lost an hour (going from Pacific Standard Time to Mountain Standard time) the riders were really pooped and all wandered off to their respective hotels for some well earned rest.

Until tomorrow...

Run for the Wall Update

Well, it has been two days since I posted anything on Blogger, mainly because me and the computer were in two different locations. I am now back in the saddle again and should be able to post regularly again. If you do not see a post, please be patient. Some of these trips are a bit wearing, and I may fall asleep before I get much typed.

Currently I am traveling across this wonderful country of ours on a motorcycle. I am participating in an annual event called Run for the Wall. For the next several days, I will be updating you on our progress across the country, and will describe to you some of the wonderful things we see and experience.

This last Tuesday evening, in anticipation of the beginning of the Run for the Wall leaving Rancho Cucamonga, California, we were treated to a wonderful dinner and got to meet two Medal of Honor Recipients, John Baca, US Army and Richard Pittman, USMC. It is really an honor to be able to meet one Medal of Honor Recipient, meeting two in on location is a very great experience. Both of these men were very humble and wished the riders well and safe journeys on their way to the "Wall".

Wednesday morning dawned without rain or major fog (for a change). We all staged at the Victoria Gardens Mall in Rancho Cucamonga in preparation for our trip to Washington D.C. At this staging, we had both routes (Central and Southern) and we got to greet each other and wish each route a safe journey. We said tearful goodbyes to our friends, and are looking forward to joining up with them again in Washington, D.C.. For those of you wondering, Central Route basically takes I-40 across the country to D.C. and the Southern Route takes I-10 / I-20 to D.C. We have friends that alternate which route they take since we all end up at the same ending point at the same time.

After we organized and staged in Rancho Cucamonga, the Central Route headed out first on their journey, and the Southern Route left about 10 minutes after that. The overcast skies started clearing as we neared Palm Springs, CA. By the time we got to Coachella, CA, the weather was beautiful, not too hot, and not too cold. Actually, it was pretty warm in the sun, but not nearly as hot as it has been or prior years' runs. At Coachella, we had our first 2010 Southern Route riders meeting and got introduced to all the leadership element. We then headed off to our lunch stop in Blythe, California.

In Blythe, it looks like the whole town stops what they are doing and comes out to greet the 250+ riders rolling through their town. As we ride through the streets, people are leaning out the store entrances waving flags, many are lining the streets waving and clapping for the riders and veterans. This is the first official "Welcome Home" that the Run for the Wall riders receive. This may be the first welcome home, but it will not be their last. Lunch was provided by the organizations of Blythe and it was a wonderful and filling meal. The children of Blythe sang for the riders and we had several presentations while everyone was resting and eating.

Tonopah, Arizona was our next stop. There we basically stopped to fill up our motorcycles and to drink more water. While riding through the desert, it is critical that everyone drink large amounts of water. You dehydrate very quickly when riding a motorcycle in the heat. Our evening stop was in Tolleson, AZ, where dinner was again provided. By now, the riders were very tired and basically ate and wandered off to their respective hotel rooms to rest up for the next day.

We are currently on the Southern Route and will be providing updates to you regarding that route. If you are interested in reading more about Run for the Wall, go to http://www.rftw.org/. For the Central route's reports, you can click on the word "Sit Reps" on the left hand side and choose Central Route 2010 for their updated reports. If you want to follow the daily Situation Reports (Sit Reps) along with pictures on the Southern Route, you can go to http://www.rftwsr-2010.us/ . The pictures are usually updated nightly, after we have completed the day of riding.

Until tomorrow...

Run for the Wall - Pre-Trip

Today was our first full day spent with our Run for the Wall Family. It was a great day in Rancho Cucomonga, CA, not just because of the weather, but due to the fact we were able to catch up with so many of our family. Because we are scattered all over the United States, we do not always get to stay in touch with each other. At least once a year we have the opportunity to get together with most of our "family" and spend some quality time.

For those of you not familiar with Run for the Wall, it is an annual motorcycle event that starts in Los Angeles County and takes 10 days to get to Washington, D.C., ending at the Vietnam War Memorial ("The Wall"). People can join the group at specific stops along the way, so nobody is required to start in California and go all the way to Washington, D.C.. "Run for the Wall recognizes the sacrifices and contributions made by all veterans who have served our nation. Veterans of recent conflicts and those currently on active duty are especially welcome to join us as we ride for those who cannot."

The mission statement for Run for the Wall is as follows: "To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world." Run for the Wall strives to maintain a save, supportive and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning.

I have been participating in Run for the Wall since 2005. At the time, I had been looking for something to do for my vacation, and was talking to a co-worker and good friend about possibly attending this event. As it turns out, he was a Vietnam Veteran and wanted me to go to the "Wall" to visit on behalf of some of those he had known and lost in the War. I chose to take the trip on behalf of my friend, who could not go. The first morning that I appeared to attend (I picked up the group in Phoenix, AZ), if it had not been for the wonderful people at registration, I would have been so overwhelmed, that I may have chickened out and found something else to do for vacation.

As it was, the people that registered me, made sure I knew where to go and who to look for. They made sure I was taken care of and assigned a place to stage my motorcycle in anticipation of leaving by 8 am. For someone who had never been in a motorcycle group of more than 50, it was scary being in a group of over 200. There were other new riders joining in Phoenix, there were people called Platoon Leaders who lead groups of us towards Washington, D.C.. There were also Road Guards who were essentially responsible for keeping us safe on the road and helping advise us on better riding techniques. Honestly, the Road Guards scared the daylights out of me. These people were seriously good riders, very intense and not afraid to tell you what you need to do to improve. They were never rude, or mean, and wanted to help. They just scared you when they would zoom up beside you (while you are riding down the road) to tell you that you need to straighten up. You end up wanting to ride like they do, and I worked very hard to make sure they had nothing bad to say about my riding.

After the first 100 miles, I started not being so tense, the death-grip on my handlebars started to lighten up and my heart started pumping at a more normal rate. After lunch (about 200 miles now) I really started getting into the swing of the ride. What was really impressive was the fuel stops. They had a system down that they could gas up over 200 motorcycles in less than 30 minutes. That is a sight to behold. Everything they did was on a schedule. There were people assigned specific tasks, people assigned to point us all in the direction we were supposed to go, people to direct us to snacks, people making sure we drank enough water (especially important as we rode across the desert) and people just moving around making sure you were safe.

After I completed that trip in 2005, I knew that this was an event that I must attend every year. The friendships that were formed, seemed so much stronger than any other friendships that I have had in the past. In less than 10 days, I went knowing only 2 people on the Run, to now riding with over 400 of my closest friends. What is really fun is that every year since, I meed up with my first 200 of my closest friends, and then find several hundred more as the Run progresses to Washington, D.C..

If you ever have the opportunity to even do one leg of Run for the Wall, it would be an unforgettable experience. If you would like more information on Run for the Wall, their website is http://www.rftw.org/, or you can e-mail me at hawgwash1@yahoo.com. It is now time for me to get off the computer and get back to catching up with my "family".

Until tomorrow...