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Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter- February 2025

Hello Sandbox Family

Less than four months from Kick Stands Up. I am really looking forward to riding across the country and only paying a portion of the amount for gas that I would have to pay if I were riding on my own, and for having donated meals all the way; and for seeing great scenery, and stopping in wonderful places; and for having LEO escort so I don’t have to deal with traffic.

WAIT!!!    You say that isn’t why we ride? 

Of course, this isn’t why we ride. While all these things are nice and we greatly appreciate the generous donations of all our supporters, the reason we ride has so much more meaning.

The following is from a post by an FNG I had the pleasure and honor to meet on the Midway Route last year. Her name is Jessica Bancroft  “Blaze”.

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“May is only a few months away, and this morning gave me renewed hope for this Mom and Son intent on The Run…

It’s late January with temperatures that hit single digits as night transitioned to morning over the Arizona desert. I’m sipping steaming hot black coffee as I go through the process of sorting and reviewing paperwork as I’m getting my children bundled up and ready to get to the school bus, thankful that it’s a calm morning and grateful for the warmth of what’s become our family home as sunlight barely crests the horizon.

“Mom?” My soon-to-be 10 year old son Matthew pipes up, stopping halfway through tying his shoes and looking up at me, “Tell me about my Grandfather again?” I smile and set down my coffee cup, sighing as I glance once more at the stacks of paperwork and correspondence on my desk in front of me. I dismiss the fatigued and frustrated feeling it gives me before getting up and stepping away from my desk, settling my gaze on him and smiling.

“His name was William Warner Bancroft Junior,” I say, as I always do when I start to talk about the man that I found out only last year was my biological father. In the back of my mind a memory plays again, and I can see and hear the first moment I stood amongst FNG’s (New Riders) last year at Run For The Wall, a cross county Veteran’s motorcycle run commemorating Vietnam Veterans, and heard everyone repeat very loudly ‘SAY THEIR NAMES!’ …and the memory adds strength to my smile. “He was a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force, a Navigator in the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.”

“Do you think he was…Nice, or like me, Mom? Like You? Like.. I don’t know what he was like.” He throws his hands up in the air questioningly, cocking one eye brow upward. “Do you know what he was like? Do you think he was a good guy?” His face is quizzically blank yet curious as he asks me, and I freeze – the pain that hits my chest like a freight train when he asks is not unfamiliar, though his question this morning has caught me off guard to say the least.

“Son,” I say softly, taking in a slow breath while sitting up straight in the chair where I’ve taken a seat near him, “I honestly don’t know what he was like. His plane was shot down November 13th, 1970, over Northern Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and he was listed as missing in action – presumed killed in action. I went on Run For The Wall last year as a bucket list thing, trying to find out more – and how I could learn more – about him. I’m still working on paperwork proving that I’m his daughter, finding the name of my mother, and coming to some peace with the younger years of my life spent abused and lied to. I didn’t know him. I’ve told you, he probably may not have known I existed. I didn’t meet anyone on the run that knew him, son. Based on what I can find in research and family rumors, he was thought a little odd for being anti-social, but he was definitely a good guy.”

“Do you think the Army will ever tell you when and where you were born, Mom?” He asks, his eyes widening, and I scrunch my face in frustration, looking back over at my desk. “They should definitely tell you who your mom is at least. It’s not nice for them to know that and not tell you. It’s wrong. Isn’t it?”

“Son, tie your shoes please. We don’t want you to be late for the bus.” I let out a long slow breath as I compose myself and smile at him again, standing up. He ties his shoes and stands, giving me a quick tight hug before putting on his coat and grabbing his backpack. As all my kids scramble about the living room calling out to each other that it’s almost time for the school bus, I do one last children check, making sure that they are all ready to go to the school bus stop. “OK, line up at the door if you’re ready!” I call out.

“I love you Mom.” Matthew says as I place a kiss on his forehead, seeming to know I’m not going to answer his last question.

“I love you too, son.” I say, giving him an extra squeeze.

“We’re going on the mission together this year though, yeah Mom? And I can see him, right? You’ll show me his name on The Wall.” Matthew grins while happily beaming smiles as I stand near the front door, giving hugs and kissing foreheads and reminding them to have a good day at school and stay safe. His three siblings grumble different complaints of it not being fair that he gets to go and they don’t.

“It’s a mission we will go on together, all of us – you guys have to send love and support us from home, and be there when we call each night.” I say, directing the end of my sentence at the three who will be staying home with my sister. “And, Matthew? That’s only if we can make it happen. You have to keep your grades up and I’ve got to still find more sponsors or extra work so we can afford to go on the run. Yes, we’re registered, but we still have a long way to go. I want to show you his memorial stone at Arlington, too, but it’s not free to do this, we’ve still got finances to figure out or it’s a no-go.”

“We’ve got this, Mom!” All four of my children squeal with laughter, “We can make the mission happen!”

“Agreed!” I say, joining the laughter and smiles with confidence of my own, “Now, off to the school bus!””

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“To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends”

This is why we ride!

I want to once again thank all the great folks that have stepped up to fill volunteer roles on Sandbox including the three people that answered my last newsletter and are now the PL, APL, and TG on 8th Platoon. Just a few more spots need filling. We could use help on the Promotions Team and an Assistant 50/50 Rouser. If you would like to get involved and help out, please fill out a Volunteer Application.

DC Meetings

You have probably heard by now that we will be in a different location in DC this year. The hotels are in Springfield VA and we will be hosted by American Legion Post 176, 6520 Amherst Ave, Springfield, VA 22150. Sandbox check-in and all our meetings will be at the American Legion. If you don’t check-in in Ontario, you will be able to check-in on Friday, 23 May from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm and also on Saturday, 24 May from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. We will also be staging and departing from the American Legion parking lot on Sunday, 25 May.

Behind the Scenes

The first person “behind the scenes” I want to introduce this month is Sam Warner, our Platoon Coordinator. Those of you that have met Polar Bear know that it is pretty hard for him to be behind anything (his name isn’t Polar Bear for nothing) and he has one of the toughest jobs on the run. A few years ago, some of the routes started assigning riders to platoons prior to check-in. This is a great idea because it allows Platoon Leadership the opportunity to hold zoom calls with their riders and everyone gets to know the people in their platoon prior to the run. Sam’s job is to go through the registration information (personal private information is redacted) and place riders in platoons according to riding preference (side by side or staggered), riding with friends, two wheels / trike / Canam / trailer, on volunteer teams, etc. This is an exhausting task, but makes things go much smoother at check-in.

The second person I’d like to introduce is Carol Omstead. Many of you already know Carol, but I am just learning about the huge amount of work she does and all the hats she wears. I’m not sure RFTW could operate if it wasn’t for Carol. On Sandbox, she is the Merchandise Team Lead and tows the merchandise trailer (she does this on the Southern Route as well) and helps set up at all the stops. As the Ontario Coordinator, Carol works with all the Hotels and RFTW Leadership, coordinates with local Law Enforcement to get us safely out of town, works with the Elks Lodge to host us, helps stock and prepare all the merchandise trailers and much, much more. When you see Carol, be sure to give her a HUGE HUG and a big THANK YOU.

Continue to reflect on what Run For The Wall is about. The mission is too important and meaningful to not continue.

Say their name, Tell their story, Never forget.

Bill “COB” Brehler

Route Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025

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Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter – January 2025

Greetings from the Battle Born State.  I hope everyone was able to enjoy the Holidays with loved ones and friends.  I am really looking forward to 2025 and the 35th annual Run For The Wall.  When I was a kid, I remember counting down the days until Christmas. I couldn’t wait until it was Christmas Morning.  As I got older, that excitement grew less and less until those days seemed to be behind me, and I thought I’d never have that same feeling of anticipation again.  And then I discovered Run For The Wall.  I am once again counting down the days. Only  120 days until KSU, and instead of looking forward to opening presents and being with family, I am looking forward to once again seeing my RFTW family and continuing this incredible mission.

“To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.” 

Sandbox currently has 203 riders registered.  If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend registering by January 31st.  Starting February 1st, the registration fee for all routes goes up, so be sure to register early and save some money!  Also, registering early helps our hard-working State Coordinators and all those who support us on the run for planning purposes.

The Sandbox Route Leadership team is making great progress on the planning of the upcoming run in 2025. The logistics and changing of a couple of our stops are still ongoing in an effort to improve the overall Route.  Our State Coordinators continue to do excellent work on confirming our stops and have done an outstanding job preparing our overnight stops, hotels, and accommodations for those camping. The Hotel and camping list is posted here. If you have any difficulties with making reservations, please let us know so that they can be addressed promptly. Please be patient and courteous with hotel staff when making reservations, and remember that you represent RFTW even when making those reservations. Even though extensive efforts have been made to coordinate with the Hotels, the person you reach on the phone may not be aware of RFTW and/or published rates. Be patient and ask to speak to a manager or sometimes it is best to just call back later.

Missing Man

Unfortunately, Last year’s Missing Man Coordinator, Greg Stenzel, will not be able to make the Sandbox run this year. He has a new work obligation that will keep him from doing the run. Greg did a great job last year and will be sorely missed. The good news is we have another rider, Alan Farmer “Rocketman”, who has stepped up for the position. Alan worked with Sue Chapin “Odds” on Midway last year and will do a great job filling Greg’s shoes. If you are going to be an FNG (Fine New Guy/Gal) on Sandbox and would like to ride a leg in the Missing Man Formation, reach out to Alan at alankfarmer@gmail.com and ph: 205-422-1205.

Honor Guard

The Honor Guard Coordinator is Roger Ford “Bullseye”. The Honor Guard does formal presentations of special flags and or wreaths at some of our stops. If you are interested in participating on the Honor Guard Team, reach out to Roger at roger.ford1234@gmail.com  ph: 619-804-2336.  If you haven’t marched for a while or never marched before, we will train you and give you a hugely rewarding experience.  Those that haven’t marched for a while, it comes back easily, trust me.

The Sandbox Route is still looking for volunteers. We need a PL, APL, and TG for the 8th Platoon (Bikes and Trikes with trailers). You don’t need to be pulling a trailer to be in leadership in this platoon. If you are interested, please fill out a volunteer form here.

Like any organization, there are a number of people who work very hard behind the scenes, and most people are never aware of what they do. I will discuss some of those volunteers in each of my following news letters. This month, I’d like to introduce two of those dedicated people who keep Sandbox rolling.

First is our Leadership Admin support, Roger Boots “Boots”.  Roger performs many tasks, but most importantly (for me), he proofreads and corrects my newsletters and gets them published. He also keeps the Sandbox contact list up to date and makes sure everything admin runs smoothly.

The second person I’d like to introduce is our Quartermaster, Cliff Brumels “Breecher”. Cliff is responsible for ordering, tracking, issuing, and collecting all our equipment (hats, brassards, rockers, windshield banners, flags, Missing Man patches and pins, and numerous other items). This is a huge (and often thankless) job. Last year, Cliff and his wife, Denise, hung around in the rain collecting and accounting for all the brassards in the parking lot at the MECWM while everyone else was heading for Hotels or Home.

Remember, “Nothing Great is ever accomplished alone!” Let’s continue to work together to make the Sandbox Route great! Together, we will Continue the Mission safely and successfully!

Bill “COB” Brehler

Route Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025

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Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter December 2024

Is it really December already – where did the year go?  I hope everyone survived Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday, Taco Tuesday, and everything else they throw at us this time of year.

RFTW XXXV is only 6 months away, and while it is the longest ride and tribute to our veterans, it is not the only way to pay our respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I know that many of the RFTW riders also participate in various other programs.

On December 14, many people will participate in Wreaths Across America by helping to place a wreath on every grave in our veteran cemeteries. The  Patriot Guard Rider organization has members in many areas of the country that support veteran funeral services, and anyone (patriots as well as veterans) is welcome to join.

 

Other organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, Legion Riders, and many others, hold fundraising events throughout the year to help veterans in need. So, if you are like me, you are counting down the days until May. If you have the time, you may also want to look into getting involved with other veteran-related organizations (and who knows, it just might help May get here sooner).

As I said in my last newsletter, the Sandbox Team is almost complete. That being said, all 4 routes are still in need of volunteers to help with merchandise sales. Much of the funding for the run comes from merchandise sales which is crucial in keeping the run going. One of the nice things about volunteering to help with merchandise sales is you don’t need to ride a motorcycle. Also, depending on the route, you may even be able to ride in the merchandise truck (if there is room), so you would only need to get from your home to Ontario and back. Additionally, you will be trained on what you have to do so no real experience is required. If you think you might be interested, reach out to the Merchandise Director, Alan “XBOX” Steiner at merchandise@rftw.us  or fill out a volunteer application.

The RFTW website has a ton of information about the run, but there might still be questions you haven’t found the answers to. Two great sources of information are the RFTW Forum and After Action Reports (AAR).  I used to think that the AARs were only meant to give feedback right after the run. While that is the main reason for them, they can be used any time of the year. If you don’t know who you should direct a question to, fill out an AAR, and it will be sent to the right person to get you an answer. Also, if you have an idea that might help to improve the run, fill out an AAR. All AARs are read by the Board Members and directed to the respective Route Coordinators. Another outstanding source for information about the run is the new RFTW Podcast that is produced by Ted “Boots” Kapner and Tai “Hitch” Harmon. These Podcasts have a plethora of great information about the run and are very entertaining.

For most of us, the Holidays are a wonderful time of year. Enjoying being with family and friends and counting our blessings for all that we have. Unfortunately, some find this time of year incredibly challenging, and they struggle just to get by. If you know anyone who will be alone or has difficulty during the holidays, consider reaching out to them. Just letting them know you care can mean a lot. Also, make sure they know they can contact the VA Veterans Crisis line by dialing 988 and pressing 1 or by texting 838255.

Remember the Mission: To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

Say Their Name, Tell Their Story, Never Forget

My wife Terri and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Fantastic New Year. Can’t wait to see everyone in May.

Bill “COB” Brehler

Route Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025

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Sandbox Route November Newsletter

Welcome To The Sandbox Family – Are You Ready

Fall is a great time of year. For some of us, the riding season is bringing on the challenge of staying dry (testing our rain gear) and warm (testing our heated gear).  For others, (like those folks in Arizona) the riding season is just beginning. You can never do too much preparation for the run, and getting in as much riding as you can (especially long-distance riding) is one of the best ways to prepare. Regardless of where you live, if you are planning to ride ALL THE WAY on one of the 3 cross country routes and then WALL TO WALL on Sandbox, you will ride at least 6000 miles round trip Another great way to prepare is to take a Motorcycle Rider Course. There are many types of classes taught at various levels. If it’s been a while since you took a class, you might want to look into honing your skills before joining the RFTW in May.

Add Something Extra to your RFTW Experience – GET INVOLVED

The Sandbox Team is really coming together. The State Coordinators are hard at work coordinating with the great people that support and feed us at our stops, as well as the Gas Stations and Hotels that accommodate us. The teams are almost full, but we could still use some help on Staging, Fuel, and Ambassador teams. If you are interested in being a part of any of these great teams, go the RFTW site and fill out  a volunteer application and / or find the Team Leader contact info on the Sandbox Contact tab and let them know you are interested.

The Forum

There are various costs associated with the RFTW. Besides the cost of making sure your bike is ready for the trip (good battery, fresh fluids, plenty of tire tread, everything tightened, working lights, etc.) there is the registration fee, prepaid gas fee, topping off each evening or morning, and a place to sleep. Hotel rooms are probably the largest expense on the run.  One of the best ways to help keep your cost down is to have a roommate. The new Forum has a ton of topics from GMRS radios, to various meet ups, to items for sale. It is also an excellent place to post that you are looking for a roommate to share hotel costs. And, if you are planning on sharing a hotel room, the trick is to get rooms with two beds. The hotel list for all routes is released on January 1. Each hotel has a limited number of rooms with two beds in the RFTW blocks. If you plan on sharing hotel rooms, you might want to consider booking early on New Years Day.

Why We Ride

There are so many wonderful things about RFTW. The amazing people you meet who quickly accept you and become family you look forward to seeing year after year. The incredible ride across our great nation and the dedicated patriotic supporters that feed us and wave to us from overpasses every year.  And of course, the Mission. I can find no way to put into words how powerfully our Mission affects me. I am humbled to be part of such a great cause and to honor and remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free. Above all else, while you are on the run, please keep our Mission in mind.

To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

Say Their Name                       Tell Their Story                        Never Forget

Platoon Assignment

The registration information has been released to the routes. The Sandbox Platoon Coordinator, Sam “Polar Bear” Warner, is starting to place riders in platoons based on the info you provided on your registration form. Type of bike you are riding, preference of riding (side by side or staggered), riding with friends, etc.  As he gets the platoon information out to the Platoon Leaders, they will be contacting the riders assigned to their platoon so everyone knows ahead of the run what platoon they will be in. If you are in a platoon that doesn’t work for you, or would rather be in a different platoon with friends, just let your Platoon Leader know so we can make adjustments.

RED SHIRT MONDAY?

I believe most everyone is aware of Red Shirt Friday. RED stands for “Remember Everyone Deployed” and by wearing RED on Fridays, we show our support for our active-duty Military deployed all over the world. Since the Sandbox Route doesn’t take part over a Friday, I would like to make Memorial Day a special Red Shirt Day. I am asking everyone riding on Sandbox to wear red on Memorial Day as we ride into St. Clairsville, Ohio to join in their Memorial Day Ceremony.

 

If you don’t already have a red shirt, you can go to the RFTW merchandise shop and purchase one (or two).

Is it May Yet?

 

 

Bill “COB” BrehlerRoute Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025

 

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Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter- October 2024

It’s already October and Sandbox registration numbers are looking good. Currently there are 92 people registered compared to 77 this time last year. I encourage everyone to register as soon as possible so our leadership and the folks who support us can make plans.

The Sandbox Teams are really coming together, but we still need some help in a few areas. The staging and fuel teams are an integral part of making the mission a success. If you have served on one of these teams, you know how rewarding it is, and if you haven’t, I highly recommend you find out how satisfying it can be to know you are making a difference. Visit the RFTW website and fill out a Volunteer Application.

If you haven’t already discovered the new RFTW Podcast, you should check it out. Ted “Boots” Kapner, Director of Public Relations, and our new Director of Social Media, Tia” Hitch” Harmon (Congratulations), are doing a spectacular job putting together a series of very informative and entertaining videos. I look forward to watching each new one that comes out.

The Sandbox Route will be doing prepaid fuel again this year. There will be several ways you can pay, both ahead of time, and at registration. More details to follow.

The following history of the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial was taken from the MECWM website:

“Beginning in late 2002 demonstrations against the potential Iraq War were organized in many Cities Worldwide. On March 20th, 2003, the day after the United States invasion of Iraq had begun, protests of the war began to take place in Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York, Pittsburg, Portland, Boston, and Chicago.

On March 21, 2003, Marine Captain Ryan Beaupre, from St. Anne, Illinois, and his crew were killed when their helicopter crashed while ferrying in troops to secure the oil fields. The Illinois Motorcycle Community wanted to pay homage to Captain Ryan Beaupre’s family and hometown. They were able to organize over a thousand motorcyclists from local A.B.A.T.E, HOG Chapters, Veteran Groups, Chicagoland Toys for Tots, and other patriotic riders to join and participate in the 1st Freedom Run ride.

This event inspired Tony Cutrano, US Navy Veteran, and Jerry Kuczera to form The Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run Organization. Its mission was to build a War Memorial to Honor our Nation’s Fallen Heroes and remember the sacrifices placed upon their families. This would become a sacred ground to offer peace and comfort for our Nations Gold Star Families.

The Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run Organization acquired donated land from The MTCO Communications building along the banks of The Illinois River in the small town of Marseilles, Illinois. The Illinois Valley Building Trades, The Illinois Valley Contractors Association, Laborers Local 393, Operating Engineers Local 150, Cement Mason Local, Electricians Local 197, and Carpenters Local 195 provided donated man hours, materials, and earth machines to shore up the land and secure a safe foundation.

The ILMFR members used The Department of Defense for reference of each name to be etched on the panels and raised more funds to aid with etching each name. The blood, sweat, and tears and thousands of hours of labored love transformed this once uneven grassy land into the beautiful Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial.

On June 19th, 2004, The Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial was dedicated to commemorating the service members who lost their lives in worldwide conflicts since 1967.

 

The five black granite panels made up the etched names of those killed in combat from Panama, Lebanon, The Balkans, Granada, Somalia, Haiti, USS Victory, USS Cole, USS Stark, the terrorist attacks in Italy, Greece, Scotland, and the beginning of the War in Iraq. The second annual Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run goes down in history as the day an expected 300 to 400 motorcyclists evolved into over 15,000. The continuation of the U.S. led Coalition and The War Against Terrorism resulted in more U.S. casualties. The ILMFR.org vowed to dedicate the third Saturday of every June to their annual Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run. This was the first time a Wall Memorial honoring our Fallen Heroes had been erected and built 100% by volunteers while the United States was still active in a conflict or war. This was also the first time a Wall Memorial was erected, and it continued to grow as, sadly, more of our military men and women were Killed in Action. The once five black granite walls have grown to over 8,000 names of our fallen forever etched into 15 black granite walls, respectively known as:

THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICTS WALL MEMORIAL.

PROUDLY Built 100% by Volunteers”

We ride to promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends

We ride to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action

We ride to honor the memory of those Killed in Action from all wars

We ride to support our military personnel all over the world

We ride for those who can’t

Say Their Name   Tell Their Story    Never Forget

Bill “COB” Brehler

Route Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025

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Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter – September 2024

It’s hard to believe that it is already September and Fall is upon us. Even though the Sandbox Leaders have already been busy putting their teams together, to me, September is the actual start of the RFTW planning season.

Registration for all four routes starts on 11 September, and I always go to the RFTW.us website and register on the first day. Due to rising operating costs, the registration fee for all routes is increasing this year. For Sandbox, the early bird fee is going from $15.00 to $20.00 per person, just a $5.00 increase.

It may seem early to start planning, but I find the sooner you start, the less chance you have of forgetting something. Here are some of the things I’m already thinking about.

How is my gear doing? Do I need to replace anything: Rain Gear, Jacket, Gloves, Sunglasses, Helmet, Luggage?  Are my boots comfortable enough to ride every day for three weeks or more?

How is my bike doing? Will I need to replace my tires before the run? How soon before the run should I have my bike serviced? How old is my battery? How will I set up the new GMRS radio on my bike?  When will my registration and insurance expire?

How am I doing? When should I start walking/exercising?  When was my last checkup? How are my riding skills holding up? Should I start looking for a roommate to share the costs?

Yes, it’s still eight months away, but you can never start planning too soon.

As I hinted in my August newsletter, Sandbox has a new departure location for 2025. In fact, RFTW has a new Host Hotel location in the DC area. We will be located in the Springfield VA, area versus the Arlington location. Additionally, American Legion Post 176 is very close by and has opened its doors to us (much like the Elks Lodge in Ontario). All the Sandbox meetings, registration, gear issue, and departure will be at the AL. No more trying to stage in an underground parking garage and deal with the exhaust and noise in a confined area.

If you are like me, you probably have quite a few friends that are veterans. Some of them are very close, and you talk with them often—others you only see or hear from occasionally. Think about reaching out to the ones you are only in touch with occasionally and see how they are doing. Do they need any help or maybe to know that someone still cares about them? Knowing someone is thinking of them can mean a lot, especially if they live alone. Make sure they know they can contact the VA Veterans Crisis line by dialing 988 and pressing 1 or by texting 838255.

 “We Ride for Those Who Can’t” The most predominant component of the RFTW Pack is the Missing Man Formation. This formation is always at the front of the pack and is made up of five riders with an empty slot representing the “Missing Man”. Are you going to be an FNG – Fine New Guy / Gal (first time rider on RFTW)? If so, you should consider reaching out to the Sandbox Missing Man Coordinator, Greg Stenzel “Chaps” at pastorstenzel@me.com, 619- 822-0167 and request to ride a leg in the Missing Man Formation. Both bikes and three-wheelers are welcome.

Remember the mission: To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

SAY THEIR NAMESTELL THEIR STORIES     NEVER FORGET

Bill “COB” Brehler                                           

Route Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025

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Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter – August 2024

Wall to Wall

Sandbox Route Coordinator Newsletter- AUGUST 202

Welcome to Sandbox Route’s 4th Annual Run

2025 is already gearing up to be an excellent year for Run For The Wall. Like the three cross-country routes, Sandbox Leaders and State Coordinators are already hard at work putting together their teams and coordinating with the incredible folks who support us on our Mission.

Road Guard Captain

It is my great pleasure to announce that Kris “Cyborg” Borg has been approved as the Road Guard Captain for Sandbox for 2025. Kris is a Sandbox-era Veteran who served 20 years in the Marine Corps, including two combat deployments in the Middle East with operations in Iraq, Basra, and Al Asad. He has served as a Road Guard on the Heartland Tour, Midway Route, and Sandbox Route and, as an Assistant Road Guard Captain on Sandbox for two years.

Communications

If you have not heard, all four routes are moving to GMRS radios for 2025. As many of you know, Central Route ran a pilot test during the 2024 Run using GMRS radios vs CBs.  CB radio technology is old, and most bike manufacturers and aftermarket companies (such as J&M) have stopped installing/repairing CBs.  Central Route’s testing results were very positive and proved that the GMRS radios provided further range and clearer communications than CB’s. After much discussion at the July Face-to-Face meeting, all four Route Coordinators unanimously decided this was the direction to move. All pack leadership will be REQUIRED to have and use a GMRS Radio in 2025. Riders and FNGs are also certainly allowed to get a radio and listen. I would highly recommend reading Kirk Olson’s post on the RFTW site as there is a lot of information regarding recommended equipment and licensing requirements  – https://rftw.us/2025-radio-comms-joint-statement-from-all-four-route-coordinators/ or click Here. While not required, the BTECH GMRS Pro has been the most popular model. From reliability to functionality to price, this option has received the highest recommendation from those who have tested it. BTECH has been generous enough to create a package deal for Run for the Wall. Using coupon code: RFTW, you will get the radio and wireless PTT button for $140. This deal is available only on the BTECH website. You need to add BOTH items to your online cart.

Volunteers Needed

I need your help.   As I mentioned, the Team Leaders are putting together their teams, and we are looking for volunteers for all positions: PLs, APLs, TGs, Road Guards, Fuel Team, Staging Team, ambassadors, outreach, and medics. If you are interested in helping and being part of a great team, please go to the RFTW website and fill out a Volunteer Form.

Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial (MECWM)

The MECWM is a living wall built by patriotic bikers using donated funds to honor the fallen heroes of conflicts in the Middle East and support veteran organizations and Gold Star families. If you haven’t already, please visit the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial page to become more familiar with the history of this memorial and the names included on it.

Middle East Conflicts Wall

Run For The Wall Forum

Yes, that’s right. The highly missed forum is back up and running and better than ever. There are topics already set up, or you can register and start your own. Find out about communications, buy/sell equipment, find roommates, get information about each route, get information on reunions, find out what type of bike is fastest, etc. Check it out at the RFTW Forum.

 

New Sandbox Departure Location for 2025

More to come………

Why do we ride

 

We ride for those who can’t. Remember our mission:  To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

 

Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, Never Forget

Bill “COB” Brehler

Route Coordinator

RFTW Sandbox 2025