Good evening Midway Route followers and family. The day is done, the sun is set, the wheels and motors are all still, not only for the Midway Route, but for Southern and Central as well. All of the Sons and Daughters of the 2025 Run for the Wall have reconvened just outside of Washington DC, waiting to walk together as one down to the Wall in the morning.
The Midway family began their final day in Ashland, gathering together in the Walmart parking lot prior to the rise of the morning sun.
Moods were both high and low, anticipation of reaching our mission end after 11 long days of traveling on the road as a group. But at the same time knowing that the time to separate and go our own ways once again is also growing near.
The final Military Challenge results; Army in 1st, Air Force a very close 2nd, Navy came in 3rd, Marines in 4th but not last, Coast Guard hadn’t even registered on the board.
Our final Hero’s bio to be read aloud this morning was that of Maj Lee Dufford “Duff” Harley, a pilot who went missing on his way back to base after a mission.
A review of what to expect on the road traffic wise into The National Army Museum as well as the rest of the way into Springfield, which led us into the daily review of hand signals, however this morning had a twist. When Leo called for a volunteer to come up, the entire Midway Family stepped forward and gave the hand signals as they were called out.
Once turned loose to our platoons, each had their own safety meetings and set to get ready for the last legs of our journey.
With a slight chill in the air, the Midway Route Family set to the road north with no reservations holding them back, two columns of bikes perfectly in sync, bikes, trikes, and trailers rolling towards that goal.
Traffic started out somewhat light but soon became almost bumper to bumper, by which time the police escort brought us onto the expressway separating the group from the main traffic stream.
We soon arrived at the National Army Museum with excellent exhibits and even a very emotionally charged movie of an Army Soldier’s life. Now I’m Air Force, and although we have fun poking at each other and all services, this video depicts all soldiers in uniform, no matter what service patch they wear. It is really something to see.
Only a short distance up the road was American Legion Post 176 where we were met with open arms, a warm meal, and signs of Welcome Home and Mission Complete, well almost. Yes this is where all three routes will reconvene and send off the fourth, our mission will truly be complete once we’ve gone to the Wall.
As we were able to sit back, relax, and even talk about the different experiences each of of us had, we soon gathered at the roadside as word came in that our Brothers and Sisters on the Southern Route were inbound and due in any minute.
Not long after we began to hear the rumble of the engines, the chirping of the police escorts, and around the corner they came. Excitement could be seen on their faces just as we were happy to have arrived shortly before them. A long trip across the nation with the same goal in mind.
They were escorted to the parking garage where they soon emerged on foot heading towards the post to relax from their journey and begin the same routine we performed only hours before them.
Approximately an hour later, we were back at the street having received word that our third and final route, the Central Route Brothers and Sisters, were coming around the corner. As with everyone before them, you could see the wearing and tiredness with the excitement shining through as they too knew they had accomplished their final leg.
All three Routes have come back together, touching countless lives across the greater part of this great nation and completing something that most folks couldn’t even begin to image doing; spending 10-11 days on the road, on a motorcycle, visiting communities far and wide, visiting cemeteries, memorials, and even veterans in VA Homes, reminding everyone with every action performed, you are NOT forgotten.
Just like any American family, whether you are a part of the Central Route Family, Midway Route Family, Southern Route Family, or even the Sandbox Route Family, although we may be different, we still belong to the same Run for the Wall Family.
We all have the same mission and it does not matter if one family does it a little differently than the other, as long as it is getting done; riding for those who cannot.
Family means no one left behind, or forgotten.
Tomorrow our final destination and completion of our mission. Our final venture together before Sandbox Route as well as routes toward home for others.
Tomorrow’s venture awaits us all. To all the RFTW family, rest easy and we shall see you tomorrow.
Written by STITCH. Pictures by Kim Butler and Cheri Miedema
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 