CR - May 17, 2026 – Day 5 to DC - Limon, CO to Junction City, KS

Since this is Sunday and Chaplain Howard read this a few year ago, I thought I would share. This poem is from Kelly Strong. (You may want a tissue on this one)

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze

a young Marine saluted it, and then

He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so Proud

with hair cut square and eyes alert

He’d stand out in any crowd

I thought, how many men like him

Had fallen through the years?

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers’ tears?

How many pilots’ planes shot down?

How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?

No, Freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still.

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant “Amen”

When a flag had draped a coffin

of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of the fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

at the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington

No, Freedom is not free!!!

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Today was an interesting day. Dan Koster, a long time RFTW rider, spoke at the morning meeting. One of the ways we raise money, is the military challenge. When Dan was the raffle rouser, he said why do we not have a patriots bucket. After he told that story to the group, the money started coming in. Great to see you Dan and thanks for rousing the group.

Here are the FNGs on the Run today. What a great group.

Here is Joshua and ? Sorry I forgot your name (it happens). They run one of the chase vehicles. You hope you do not need this but they are there if needed. Thanks guys.

Sooo… this is one of the “rookie” road guards. The rookies have to put up with the more seasoned road guards antics. They will get their chance next year. We definitely can tell who they are now.

It started about 55 and I thought I knew how to dress. About 30 minute down the road, it got really cold. I was not the only one. There were a lot of people cold. OK put on the heated gear. Ahh much better. The sun is trying to come out

15 minutes before our next stop, the sun came out and we all delayers at Oakland.

Word of the day is “BRIDGES”. Thumper is the state coordinator for Kansas. He tries to get someone or a group of people/ trucks on all the bridges. WOW! did he hit is out of the park. Here are a few before we got to Oakley.

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We get to the first gas stop and someone comes over the radio, the gate is shut, we need to reroute the pack. YIKES… we are already pulling into the gas pumps. After we fuel up, there are road guards directing the bikes the new way and the staging team is trying to redirect bikes to get us all lines up. They looked like little ants with yellow hats running around. AGAIN adapt and over come. Here is the reason. I believe this truck had the path blocked. It’s All good.

Back on the road. Here is one of the duties of the road guards. Try and get the right lane open so we can get on the highway with no cars in between us.

One of the things I like about riding is the fresh air, the smell of cut grass, ….. BUT this is one thing you smell way before you get there. HAHA

More bridges….I hope you enjoy them. I LOVE seeing all the people. They take time to support the Run. Some of these bridge take time to set up, organize the people, get the truck, the flags, etc.

This is the kind of stories this country needs to see more often.

This flag was huge…look at it compared to the fire trucks.

Yeah the sun is out! So much warmer. Check out this pic.

You feel like you are right there on the bike behind us, right?

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Lunch is in Oakley, KS. Now temps are way up and time to delayer.
Look are this welcome.

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Great venue…

…and the people are so grateful for what we are doing.

Here is a beautiful Vietnam Memorial within the park where we ate.

Also this was created as an Eagle Scott project from a local student.

We head down the road. I cannot wait until we get to the next bridge.

Some times a few people…

or a few flags…

…. or some trucks…

… or lots of people…

… or lots people and trucks. Are you getting bored yet… not me.

Even a local officer in the median of the highway.

We take a slight detour before our gas stop at Bunker Hill. Russell KS is the home of Bob Dole. This town runs parallel to I-70 which we are on all day to day. The town’s people are great supports of the Run. It is nice to show we appreciate them.

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Check out the kids…. way to go moms and dads.

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Robert Joseph Dole was an American politician, attorney, and U.S. Army officer who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was awarded 2 Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. Dole was seriously injured on April 14, 1945, while leading his platoon in combat. He was hit by German machine-gun fire, which resulted in significant injuries to his right arm and collarbone. His recovery involved extensive rehabilitation, lasting nearly three years. Dole’s military service not only shaped his character but also influenced his later political career. He became known for his advocacy for veterans and the disabled. He was the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate during the final 11 years of his tenure, including three non-consecutive years as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate.

This leg is 121 miles. The temps have gone into the upper 90s. Key word of the afternoon:

hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Great send off…. WOW we are just at a gas stop and look..

The prior leg and the last leg of the day, we had winds of 35 MPH or higher. This called for single file the next 102 miles. Now temps stay in the 100 the whole way. At one point for a short time, I saw 110 on the bike.

Few more bridges before we get into Junction City.

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Check out the direction the flags are flying early in the morning and they way the are now.

As we roll into Junction City, we are met with this truck. Pretty sweet!!!

Junction City here we come.

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There is a ceremony for RFTW at the Kansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Star Spangled Banner started playing. All conversations stopped, and all stood up.

Papa Smurf in the green is a Vietnam vet…

and the 2 local gentlemen here are also.

RFTW

Speaker were the mayor, Terry Butler

and Garrison Commander,, Gerald Nunziato. One thing he said was that we are not riding alone. We have support all over and especially in Junction City..