Greetings from Weatherford Y’all!
As the summer heat starts to break and the leaves begin to turn across this great country, our thoughts naturally turn toward May. Autumn is always a special time for the Run For The Wall family. It marks the shift from reflecting on our last mission to actively building the next. While we are months away from lining up side-by-side on the highway, fall is where the foundation for our next Run is forged.
Why We Ride!
When you strip away the logistics, the fuel stops, and the miles, what are we left with? People. At the heart of every single tenet of our Mission Statement, you find People:
- Promote healing among ALL veterans, their families, and friends.
- Call for an accounting of our Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA)—LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND!
- Honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars.
- Support our military personnel all over the world.
Every mile we log, every bridge we stand on, and every school or memorial we visit serves that singular, noble purpose to keep that focus on the people we call family. As we now step hard into this new season of planning, let’s carry that sense of shared duty, respect, and camaraderie into everything we do.
Registration Is Open — It’s Time to Make It Happen!
The gates are open, and the countdown to May is officially underway! Registration for Run For The Wall is now live at RFTW.us/rftw-registration.
- PLEASE REGISTER EARLY! While May might feel like a long way off, early registration is critical to our Route Leadership Teams, Fuel & Staging Crews, Road Guard Captains and State Coordinators. Knowing our numbers early allows us to properly coordinate fuel stops, staging areas, meals, and lodging across all Routes.
- To our FNGs (First-Time Riders): You are the lifeblood that keeps this organization growing and moving forward. Taking that first step can feel overwhelming but know that you are stepping into a family that will ride alongside you every mile of the way. Whether One Leg, One Day, or All the Way – come out to join this family of Veteran’s and Patriots. You’ll be glad you did.
- To our Returning Riders: Welcome back. We all know someone who would benefit from the healing power of this Run. The Magic of the Run is real and you’ve all seen it work. Reach out to someone you know who needs this ride. If you know a veteran who is seeking healing, a family member looking for closure, or a supporter who wants to serve, guide them through the registration process and bring them into the fold.
- Youth Registration: New this year is discounted registration for pre-teen participants. To encourage young families to join the Run, accompanied youth ages 12 & Under can be registered for only of $20 regardless of Route or number of days on the Run.
Leadership, Volunteers, and Off-Season Readiness
Run For The Wall is an all-volunteer organization. Right now, your Board, Route Leadership Teams and State Coordinators are working behind the scenes to secure permits, meal sponsors, staging locations, lodging support and Law Enforcement involvement to build another safe, impactful Run.
- Step Up to Serve: If you can’t ride on two or three wheels this year, we always need dedicated hands on our ground support teams—chase drivers, staging detail, hydration, and medical crews. Your experience and dedication can make a difference!
- Check Your Gear: Use these fall and winter months to inspect your bikes, complete routine maintenance, and make sure your equipment is mission-ready. Safety is non-negotiable.
New Director of Operations
Darin “Lurch” Koch was installed last month as our new Director of Operations, and he hit the ground rolling at full throttle! The smooth-running operational readiness we enjoy in Ontario and Springfield doesn’t happen by accident. As a longtime RFTW rider and two-time former Route Coordinator (2023 & 2024), Lurch brings proven leadership and a deep understanding of what makes our Run successful and our RFTW Family special. His dedication to our Run, our Riders, and our Mission has been exemplary, and I look forward to working alongside him to keep us moving forward!
RFTW Town Hall – Captain’s Call with Bugs
I was fortunate to attend both the Workday Reunion in Angel Fire and the Texas Riders Reunion in Kerrville, and those two events were outstanding! For me, Fall really kicks off with these two gatherings—they stir up incredible motivation and energy for May and the upcoming Run.
A highlight of both reunions was the Town Hall-style meeting, featuring updates on our current coordination followed by open, direct Q&A. Back in my Navy days, I held regular Captain’s Calls with my unit for the exact same reason: to give everyone face-to-face access to information and answers. While meeting in person isn’t always easy, the digital age gives us the perfect solution: the WebCast!
On Wednesday evening October 21st at 7 PM Central, your RFTW BoD Vice-President, Corey “SunBear” Lederer and I will host the first of our planned Quarterly Town Halls to keep you informed on current events and answer your questions directly. Joining is seamless—with Zoom WebLink, it should be just a few clicks to join and participate. The web link will be provided in a separate newsletter closer to the event. I hope to see you all there!
Looking ahead – Continue the Mission
Our original Mission was founded on the premise that our government should focus more energy and effort on recovering live POW/MIA service members in Vietnam – that Mission still lives though somewhat tempered by time and expectation to finding answers and bringing home the proof in dignified transfer. To that end, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is still hard at work. The DPAA reported reaching 250 identifications in FY 2026 surpassing the previous year by 19 (you can read the news article here.) Of the 2646 named on the initial list of Vietnam War unaccounted-for personnel following Operation Homecoming in 1973, over 1000 have been returned, but there remain 1566 People and many families still waiting their homecoming.
Welcome Home is not just a catch phrase or casual greeting to us. It comes from a place deep inside signaling a heartfelt embrace, to return something lost, to open a space where support is freely given and an admonition to those nearby to honor the arrival of one who richly deserves our gratitude.
I am truly honored to serve this Mission as President of the BoD, to advocate and uphold the Run that energizes it and to support you the Riders that make it all happen. You are Run For The Wall and you make it all worthwhile!
Remember, all roads lead to all roads, so wherever you go, Together We Ride! See you on the road!
Sincerely,
Bugs
