Author: David "Buzz" Mullen

RFTW Southern Route Newsletter November 2025

Run For The Wall Mission
To promote healing among all veterans and their family and friends
Call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War & Missing in Action (POW/MIA)
Honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA)
Support our military people all over the world

Good Day, everyone!  Not to sound pushy or repetitive, HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!  For all those who’ve ridden on any of our routes, those words are quite familiar.  For my FNGs, get used to them as they will be used for the entire time you’re in any of the Ontario meetings and briefings.  I carry several thermoses with me on my bike, and I carry one with me when I’m out and about.  I put my road name on the bottom of all that I have, so when I forget one somewhere, please look on the bottom of the thermos and you’ll know it’s mine.

We have 192 days left until Kick Stands Up.  All three Coast-to-Coast routes will be leaving on 13 MAY 26.  Our registration numbers are growing, and we’re looking forward to getting more.

REGISTRATION

Early Bird registration will run through 31 January 2026, and the fee is $100.  I encourage all those who have not registered yet to take advantage of the Early Bird price.  The Regular Registration begins 1 February 2026, and the fee is $120.  Knowing how many riders we have is crucial for our State Coordinators as they work with the folks who donate their time and money so the Southern Route is successful.

The Sandbox Route will have an Early Bird fee of $40 through 31 January 2026, and the Regular fee will be $60 beginning 1 February 2026.  I’ve registered for both routes on 11 September 2025, and I’m looking forward to the Sandbox Route, as this will be my first year.

RFTW Resources

The RFTW website has some informative, interesting, and useful information about the routes and experiences riders have had.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Podcasts – Ted “Boots” Kapner and Tai “Hitch” Harmon host guests who are involved with Run For the Wall. There’s always something to learn from these interesting and, at times, funny podcasts.
• Forum – The RFTW forum is filled with subjects about RFTW. There’s information for FNGs (Fine New Guys) where you can also ask questions and have experienced people guide you with ideas on having the best experience possible.  If you’re an experienced RFTW rider, there are still many opportunities to learn or spread your knowledge about the run.  Do you need to find a roommate to share hotel expenses with?  The forum is a great place to post and start a conversation with a potential roommate.
• Local meetings – around the country are posted, so in most cases, you will find a monthly meeting within a couple of hours or less from your home. If that’s not the case, you can always start your own monthly meeting by posting on the forum, and help is always available.
• GMRS radios – we have moved on from CB radios to GMRS, which has a greater distance with better clarity. They also have a sub-audio signal that provides privacy, so extraneous non-RFTW transmissions will not affect us.  BTECH (https://baofengtech.com/) radio has a special; they will honor an RFTW special to sell a radio with a PTT (push to talk) button for $140.  Again, there are great videos produced by a former RC, Kirk “Pretty Boy” Olsen on how to set up the radios.  There are other resources also but the forum is a good place to start.
• FNG stories – riders share some stories from their experience as an FNG and some of the “Magic of the Run” we experience. If you have a good story, this is a good place to share.

MISCELLANEOUS, but Important

As always, prior to the Run, keep two things in mind.  Keep up the maintenance on your bike/trike.  Your operator’s manual will tell you the scheduled maintenance that needs to be done.  Did you know that on a Harley, the oil in the front forks should be changed every two years?  Goldwings, it’s every 2-3 years.  Look at your tires, making sure you’re not touching the wear bars.  If you’re close, replace the tires.  Remember to check your chain/belt/driveshaft to ensure there is no damage or leaks.

REMEMBERANCE

With all that we have to do to keep our home life running smoothly and having to work to support our families, there are challenges that show up and have to be dealt with.

Since the time we had our entire Run family photo taken, the Southern Route has lost three of our riders.

We lost Brad “Groot“ Knowland shortly after we all made it home while succumbing to injuries he sustained while doing chores at home.  Brad was a member of our 2025 Medical Team and was a great help with medical issues that arose, as well as other problems that he observed and took charge of.

Michael “Wizard” Turner was a long-time rider in the Southern Route and a member of the Board of Directors.  We lost Wizard as he was riding to the reunion in Kerrville.  His wife, Linda, was also seriously injured and continues to heal physically.

We also lost Rick “Speed Bump” Shoaf, our Fuel Team Lead.  He had retired from the Navy as a Search and Rescue swimmer.  He loved being Fuel Team Lead and was someone I could go to with issues that were not related to the Fuel Team.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends of those lost. We will be able to move forward in our lives, remembering these brothers who have brought so much good into our lives.

Although we’ve encountered these events, we still have much to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is just a little under four weeks away, we’ll be sharing that day with family and friends, and it’s a time of fellowship and thanks for all that we have and the blessings that have been bestowed upon us.  If there’s a military facility close by, there will be servicemembers who would sincerely enjoy having a Thanksgiving meal off-post.

Thank you, riders, for your support of Run For The Wall and the Southern Route.

Is it May yet!
We ride for those who can’t!
Ride safe!

David “Buzz” Mullen
SR RC 2026

RFTW Southern Route Newsletter October 2025

Run For The Wall Mission

To promote healing among all veterans and their family and friends

Call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War & Missing in Action (POW/MIA)

Honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA)

Support our military people all over the world

As of 1 October 2025, we have just 224 days until KSU!  I am looking forward to getting to Ontario and seeing my fellow riders!

We had a great time at the Texas Riders Reunion 26-28 September in Kerrville, TX, this year.  Thanks to “Juice” and “Pickles” Tutton for honchoing this year’s reunion and thanks to “Sam” and “Cowboy” Mead for hosting the BBQ on Friday the 26^th.  We’d also like to thank “Old School”, Robert Reavis for arranging steaks to be there from a local butcher shop to feed us all at the BBQ.  Unfortunately, Old School couldn’t make it but he was surely appreciated.

REGISTRATION

Registration opened up on 11 September 2025 and Southern Route is looking good.  If you’ve already registered, thank you.  If you’re waiting for the right time, that time is now!  As you old timers know, the number of registered riders we have, the better the support will be.  These numbers are used by the State Coordinators to plan fuel stops, lunch, and dinner stops.  The number of riders and bikes/trikes will determine how much fuel we’ll need and how much food will be donated.  So, please register early on our website:  rftw.us

     Coast-to-Coast Routes (Southern)
$100 Early Bird
$120 Regular Reg (Starts 1 Feb)
Day Riders (Up to 3 days):  $100

Wall-to-Wall (Sandbox)
$40 Early Bird
$60 Regular Reg

VOLUNTEERS

We are still looking for Volunteers for some specific positions.  We need additional people for our medical team.  If you do apply for the medical positions, ensure that you have the proper credentials. We need a SITREP writer and a Social Media person.  These two positions are critical for the RFTW mission to reach those who are surfing the web for a cause such as ours.  It also allows the loved ones that are home follow us on the run and keep up with the activities and things we do.  Tai “Hitch” Harmon is the RFTW Director of Social Media and is also the guru of all things podcast!  The second season is available on YouTube and other podcast sites for your viewing pleasure.  Drivers for the Merchandise trailers are needed for all routes.

This past Run was the first year for all routes to communicate within the route using the GMRS radio system, and it worked well.  If you have a unit, remember, you only listen to the traffic if you are not in a leadership position.  Within a platoon leadership, it’s best to use hand signals whenever possible to limit the radio traffic so the system is available for communications involving safety of the whole pack.  There is also the ability of most radios to monitor a 2^nd channel, which could be set up for a particular platoon and not interfere with the primary channel for the pack.  More info about GMRS radio is available on the forum here.

Start venturing out, riding increasingly longer rides, to have your body acclimated to long rides.  HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!  You will be strongly encouraged to drink lots of water, electrolytes, Gatorade, etc., all during The Run.  Whenever you attend a briefing or a meeting, make sure you have a container of water with you.

And sadly, one of our Southern Route riders and a member of the Board Of Directors, was involved in an accident over the weekend and succumbed to his injuries.  Michael “Wizard” Turner was the Director of Operations and has been involved in The Run for many years.  Please keep his family in your prayers as his wife, Linda, also sustained severe injuries.

Is it May yet!
We ride for those who can’t!
Ride safe!

David “Buzz” Mullen
SR RC 2026

RFTW Southern Route Newsletter September 2025

Run For The Wall Mission

To promote healing among all veterans and their family and friends
Call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War & Missing in Action (POW/MIA)
Honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA)
Support our military people all over the world

It’s not quite May yet, but we’re heading that direction.  As of 1 September, we have 254 days until KSU and are looking forward to gathering in Ontario.  I hope that everyone had a safe Labor Day.

Those of you who participated in the Angel Fire Reunion, I trust it was a moving time in remembrance of those we honor.

In this year’s Run, we honored the 50^th anniversary of the last battle in the Vietnam War.  On next year’s Run, we will be honoring the 35^th anniversary of the beginning of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  Our Director of Merchandise, Alan “Xbox” Steiner, has pins, coins, and wristbands that will be sold at the merchandise trailer and probably online.  When these items are ready for sale, I’ll post it on the Southern Route Facebook page and Xbox usually posts this information on RFTW Facebook page, so be on the lookout for information to be posted.

I spoke with Phillip “Juice” Tutton, the honcho for this year’s Texas Rider’s Reunion, and he’s still taking registrations.  Remember that registration fee is $40 up until 15 September 2025.  After that date, the fee will be $50.  If you wish to pay cash, send in your registration and you’ll be able to settle up when you register at the YO.  Registration for the Texas Rider’s Reunion is through a PDF form that is available HERE.  There’s not a web site for this gathering so registering this way is best and works well.  As we gather in Kerrville, please remember the devastation that occurred in the area and the families that lost loved ones in the flooding.  The donations that were collected by The Run totaled $4900 and were given to local charities located in the area.

Registration for The Run can be found at rftw.us and will begin at 0846 Eastern on 11 September 2025.  That link is not alive yet, but it will be on 9/11.  Early Bird registration fee is $100 until 31 January 2026.  After that date, the fee will be $120, so register early.  Sandbox Route fee will be $40 through 31 January 2026 and after that date the fee will be $60.

If you’d like to volunteer, you can do so at this site:  Volunteer Form.  Please send them in as quickly as you can so the Platoon Coordinator can fill the positions.  We have a couple Platoon Leader positions open and we’re looking at some candidates now.  Assistant Platoon Leader slots are open as well as Tail Gunner positions.  There are many other positions available looking for volunteers.  We need a SitRep writer, a Social Media coordinator, and we have some medical staff, but we could use a couple of more folks, along with some other roles that help the organization for funding and helping keep us all stay organized.  Please consider this if you’ve been on the run before and you’re looking for a way to contribute to our mission.  The sooner these positions are filled, the sooner we can begin to plan the route itinerary and what will take place at each of our stops.

Thank you everyone for your interest in riding in the Southern Route 2026.  I’m looking forward to seeing you all in Ontario and along the Route.

Ride safe!

David “Buzz” Mullen
SR RC 2026

SR August 2025 Newsletter

Run For The Wall Mission

To promote healing among all veterans, their family, and friends

To call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War& Missing in Action (POW/MIA)

Honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA)

Support our military stationed all over the world

Greetings, everyone!  I trust that everyone had a safe and celebratory Independence Day.  I had a very enjoyable holiday with my family.  The picture above shows we know how to honor, respect, and have fun.

As of 1 August 2025, we will have 283 days until KSU, so start planning your preparations for The Run.  Plan for any services your bike will need, check your tires, and start thinking of the items you’ll need to take with you.  You’ll also need to prep your body for the 10-day mission.  Start by taking rides with increasingly longer mileage as doing this will acclimate your body to the daily mileage we’ll be riding.  It’s never too early to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  Hydrating will be a daily item in all meetings from platoon to Southern Route morning meetings

All those in leadership roles will need a GMRS radio for communication in the pack and in your teams/platoons.  If you have a GMRS unit and not in a leadership position, you can listen only.  And if you are monitoring, you’ll be able to anticipate what will be happening.  For more information about the GMRS radios, check out the good information shared by Kirk “Pretty Boy” Olsen and others on the RFTW forum.  You can find a link “here”.

If you are good with bookkeeping and maintaining a checkbook, we can use you to assist the route with expenditures and deposits, donations, etc.  Both the financial lead and an assistant are needed.  We are continuing to accept Volunteer Forms for Platoon Leaders, Assistant Platoon Leaders, and Tail Gunners.  We are also looking for qualified participants to fill the Medical Team positions along with the SitRep Writer.  Please submit your applications as soon as possible.  A big thank you for all those who have submitted the applications already.

Registration for all RFTW Routes will open 11 September 2025, with the fees being;
$100 Early Bird, $120 Regular Reg (starts 1 Feb 2026), Day Riders (up to three days) $100.  I strongly suggest the Early Bird.

The Texas Riders Reunion in Kerrville is 26-28 September with a $40 registration fee.  Info is on the TX Riders Reunion Facebook page.

I am pleased to announce that Don “Doc” Wood will be our Road Guard Captain again this year.  Doc was my Road Guard mentor and continues being a mentor to me both as a Road Guard in 2024 and as the ARC in 2025.  Thanks, Doc!

I am humbled to be the Route Coordinator for the Southern Route in 2026.  My senior leadership team is solid and experienced.  Together, with all my riders in the Southern Route, we will continue the mission in 2026.

David “Buzz” Mullen
Route Coordinator
Southern Route 2026

Good day all!  I hope that everyone has returned home safely, recouped, and settled back into home life! This is David “Buzz” Mullen, newly appointed 2026 Route Coordinator for the Southern Route.  The Board of Directors has approved Kevin “Short” Short as Assistant Route Coordinator, and the Board is currently reviewing the nominees for Road Guard Captain.  Once the Board has reviewed my nominee, I will post that in my next newsletter.

A little about me:  I was born and raised in King of Prussia, PA, which is located about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia.  During my years in the Army, I decided to make El Paso my home while stationed at Ft Bliss.  During my time in service, I spent six years as an Infantryman and all the other ash and trash duties that came with it.  In those years, I was stationed at Ft Carson, CO, Joint Security Area, Korea, The Old Guard, and Berlin Brigade. I applied for and was accepted to attend Officer Candidate School.  After a few duty stations in the States and Germany, I retired in February 1992.

My FNG year was 2014, and since then, I have continued to accept various leadership roles in The Run.  TG, APL, PL, RG, and last year, I was the Assistant Route Coordinator.  A tribute to Lennie “Big Red” Hodson as he took on the role of Route Coordinator.  Never having the chance to be an ARC, he tackled the RC job and Continued the Mission.  Thanks, Lennie!

I have selected Kevin “Short” Short to be my Assistant Route Coordinator.  He has ridden with the Southern Route All The Way since 2019, Sandbox Route 2023, and Patti’s Posse ATW 2021.  He has held positions including TG, APL, and Platoon Coordinator in both the Southern Route and the Sandbox Route.

For those of you who wish to be in leadership positions, please submit volunteer forms as soon as you can, which can be found at rftw.us website.  Click on Southern Route, then click on Volunteer Sign-Up, fill it out, and send it in.  Those of you with whom I spoke during The Run will also need to fill out the Volunteer Sign-Up form.  You can accress the volunteer form HERE,

Remember that the Texas Riders Reunion will be held in Kerrville, TX, during the timeframe of 26-28 September 2025.  It is a great time to meet up with friends and riders.  Roger “Cowboy” Mead and Sam handed over the reins to Phillip “Juice” Tutton last year, and it was a great experience, as always

OUR MISSION

To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends.
To call for an accounting of all Prisoner Of War & Missing in Action.
To honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) in all wars.
To support our military people all over the world.

Remember that we are on the mission stated above.  We are not going to just ride across the country for the sake of it.  We ride to accomplish that mission!

Registration will be open on 11 September 2025, so please sign up as soon as you can, as it is of great importance to our state coordinators, as they need that information to give to our supporters on The Run.

Have a safe summer and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

David “Buzz” Mullen
Route Coordinator
Southern Route 2026