President’s Message – October 2025

The weather has noticeably shifted toward fall in south-central PA. Many bird species, including my favorite, the hummingbirds, have headed for warmer areas. The leaves have started to fall, a clear sign that cooler weather is approaching. Sadly, this year, the trees lack vibrant colors as they change, but riding through the mountains remains enjoyable. With only 209 days until KSU, we stay busy preparing for RFTW 2026. Several projects are underway that we hope will make 2026 a fantastic year! This may also be a good time to give your motorcycle a thorough check and schedule any necessary maintenance or repairs. And speaking of maintenance and repairs, if you aren’t already taking care of your body, the winter months might be a good time to start. We all know that a fit mind and body will help you on the Run.

Above all else, we need to keep our “eyes on the ball”.

As I’m sure you have heard, Michael “Wizard” Turner, a longtime Southern Route rider and board member, recently passed away. I ask you to keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

M25 and RFTW Wall partnered for a one-of-a-kind Motorcycle Giveaway to honor the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

To celebrate this historic milestone, we are giving away a custom-painted Indian Motorcycle to a military veteran who has served our great nation with honor and courage.

This collaboration brings together two veteran-focused organizations with a shared mission:

• Mission M25: Serving as chaplains, hydration teams, and support riders during the annual Run For The Wall ride for over 20 years.
• Run For The Wall: A cross-country motorcycle ride that promotes healing, honors POW/MIA and KIA veterans, and raises awareness for those who served.

????️ This giveaway is a tribute to the brave men and women who have defended our freedoms for 250 years.

The rules for this giveaway are:

• You must be a United States Veteran, and you must have registered and completed at least one leg of Run For The Wall in the past.
• You must be located in the lower 48 states for Mission M25 to deliver it to you.
• You can register once a day up until midnight on November 10th.

The winner will be announced on Veterans Day 2025. Mission M25’s goal is to deliver the bike to the winner in person in a timely manner after the winner is announced. The M25 point of contact for questions is Dustin “Leatherneck” Taylor – write him at leatherneckdwt@gmail.com.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

As occasionally happens, there has been a realignment among the Board of Directors. Alan “Xbox” Steiner is transitioning into the Operations role, and Angie “Den Mother” Holterman is now serving on the Board as the Director of Merchandise. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements, as Angie might be looking for a merchandise assistant soon.

Once again, fundraising activities have started. Fundraising has specific rules, so you should discuss it with your Route Coordinator (RC) before beginning or announcing any fundraising efforts. There are guidelines for both fundraising and the use of RFTW’s Intellectual Property (IP). Make sure to review these with your RC and follow the official procedures. Some options require time for review and approval, so plan ahead. For example, a fundraiser request, including a draft design, must go through the RC, then to the Director of Merchandise, and finally to the Treasurer for approval. If you’re using RFTW IP, it also needs approval from the President. We aren’t trying to restrict fundraising activities for the routes, but we must prevent unapproved use of our intellectual property. Route fundraisers that compete with RFTW merchandise sales would be like “cutting off your nose to spite your face.”

We are still looking for a new Treasurer, but no one has volunteered yet. Our financial records are essential for our charitable ratings and IRS status. Although we don’t aim to make a profit (since we are a nonprofit), we are required to file taxes and an annual Form 990, so keeping accurate financial records is crucial to our continued success and survival. Bob Nelson, our current Treasurer, has worked hard to continue to improve our bookkeeping processes. If you’re interested in the position, please get in touch with Bob at treasurer@rftw.us.

Camping in Ontario requires prior approval and reservations. To be clear, there is no camping at the Elks without prior clearance. Camping arrangements is one of the many things that Carol is working on, so please wait for further information. As expected, traveling and camping are similar to staying at a hotel; prior reservations are almost always required. More details will follow, so please be patient as this develops.

Registration for Run 2026 is open.  The rates were adjusted for 2026 as follows:

• C2C
  1. $100 – Early Bird
  2. $120 – Regular Reg (starting Feb 1)
  3. $100 – Day riders (up to 3 days on the road riding)

• W2W
  1. $40 – Early Bird
  2. $60 – Regular Reg (starting Feb 1)
  3. Day riders pay regular rates

Besides saving you money, registering early is very helpful to our State Coordinators. Those dedicated volunteers who work so hard to feed and house us need as much advance notice as possible about the number of riders coming. You can register on our website just as you have in the past.

The RFTW Podcast with Boots and Hitch continues to highlight what makes RFTW a unique organization. I encourage you to take a listen. Each episode explores a distinct aspect of RFTW, featuring interviews with various individuals who have contributed to the development of RFTW.  If you have ideas for a podcast, please email the team at pod@rftw.us.  Check it out!!

Some final thoughts:

It is not the worst thing to die in war; it is not the worst thing to be missing in war. The worst thing is to be forgotten in War.

‘No one left behind’ is more than just a standard we strive to meet. It is a way of life. It is part of our Mission. If you or someone you know finds themselves struggling with mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1, or texting 838255 to speak or chat with a qualified responder.

POW/MIA Recovery Update (as of 10 October 2025): The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) continues its dedicated efforts to recover and identify remains from all conflicts.  Since the first of January 2025, DPAA has accounted for 160 of our fallen lost in conflicts. 109 from WWII, 44 from the Korean War, and 7 from the Vietnam War – that leaves 1566 still missing in Vietnam, most of whom still have families looking for answers. DPAA lists 126 missing from the Cold War and six still missing in the Gulf War and Libya. Our four-part Mission begins with the call for accounting – those families are our families, and they deserve our support.

Let us dedicate ourselves and our efforts and remember to keep our focus on the Mission. It is why we ride!

Say Their Names – Tell Their Stories – Never Forget.
Back to Basics. Back to the RFTW Mission.
Is it May yet?
See you in Ontario!!!!