2026 SandBox Route – Day 3

The morning started with the most beautiful sunrise with orange colors blended together like a melted creamsicle.

At the all-hand meeting a roll call was done with a list of names. They were Navy and Coast Guard names from 2004. Operation Iraqi Freedom. All killed. Say their names. Never forget.

Another name. Kevin Ellenburg. Kevin’s mom and dad came to the run and are FNGs this year.  His mom, Amy, spoke to us. He was a rescue swimmer and she said he had three characteristics.

Determination. Kevin was in Little League. His mission was to be a catcher for his brother, a pitcher, Andrew. Mission complete.

Resilience. He was a product of divorce. She is his bonus mom. His sister was his confidante, a bond like no other.

Loyalty. When he joined the Army his dad told him bring pride to the name Ellenburg on your chest.  He was always the first to volunteer.

Amy closed by saying there were two who died for us …

One carried the flag.

One carried the cross.

One died for your freedom.

One died for your soul

Private First Class Kevin James Ellenburg.  Say his name. Never forget.

We got on the road and went to the Indiana Veterans Home, which hosted us for breakfast. As we approached the lengthy driveway, it was lined with large flags. There’s also a cemetery for the veterans and their spouses who have resided at the home. Each headstone had a small flag at its base. The grounds are beautiful with a fountain and a memorial. Cut green grass extends for a long way. But always the best part is seeing the veterans. A few were out to meet us, but the morning was still cool.

Jim, a Marine, is the home mail carrier. He’s been here eight years and was asked if he’d do this job. They pay him $3 an hour. So he’s still working.

Ralph was a Navy man. He liked the little dog, Chipper. He was a Yeoman (male Secretary) for a weapons officer.  He served on the USS Arcadia, a tender ship, and on the USS Josephus Daniels.

Visiting the VA homes can be hard, but we do so much good by visiting. Occasionally, you run into someone who doesn’t want a pin, and when you say thank you for your service, they respond with, “Whatever.”  We are told not to take it personally, but you wish you had time to really make a difference for that one person. Most are so happy to see someone, to get a pin, a hug, or a handshake, and a few minutes of your time so they feel like part of the community again.

The last fuel stop of Sandbox is in Watseka, Illinois. The noise. The fuel team flaggers are directing bikes this way and that way to open pumps. The bikes are moving. It truly is chaos that quickly gets several hundred bikes fueled up and moved out to the staging area. It’s an art to getting it done.

They tried to break their record. The words, “C’mon. Pump!!!” were heard. The 9 minutes and 47 seconds for about 260 bikes didn’t break the record of 8 minutes and change, but it’s sure impressive.

One of the best parts was that the fuelers were all wearing swim shorts, providing some levity for a very solemn mission.

The group went to Legion Park in Watseka for lunch. And there, RC Clutch presented plaques and patches for the Leadership teams.

From lunch we headed to the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois. The mission.

People looked up names, others made etchings, and some just needed a hug. It’s an emotional time for those with someone on the wall, and there are a lot of tears shed. Those tears mean someone loved is not forgotten. Say their names. Tell their stories.

Sandbox Route completed the mission by laying a plaque on the wall and making a flag presentation. Wall to Wall. Mission complete.

It’s the last day of the Sandbox Route. There’s a sadness as our riders, our family members, will now scatter to the winds. Safe travels.