Category: Central Route 2024 SitReps

May 15, 2024 – Day 1 To DC – Ontario, CA to Williams, AZ

Reminder From RFTW.US web site:

He starts out by telling everyone about his brother, Glenn.  He was a Vietnam vet and was severely wounded.  He had a traumatic brain injury that left him paralyzed on his left side.  They told him he would possibly not speak again and not walk.  He spent 1 year at Walter Reed Hospital.  Glenn had told them “They carried me in, but I am going to walk out”.  And guess what, he did.  He also got a bachelor’s and master’s degree, along with many other certificates in his life, as well as being a Deacon of his church.  He received a purple heart and bronze star. He walked until he was 79, and passed away at 81.

I found a picture of Larry and his brother before we went on the Run in 2015.  We went to see him before we left, and he told us about what happened when he was in Vietnam.  He never told anyone before. He was very proud to have served this country.  We were very proud of him.

His motto that he lived by:

I am what I am

I do what I can

And if I cannot

By the grace of God I will.

THIS IS WHY WE RIDE

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On with the day’s events.  What a great day even with a little bit of rain. The road guards and staging teams are out at o-dark thirty.  The people in Ontario are fixing eggs and sausage, and they have a supply of donuts. And of course, coffee.

The staging team has to get there early to mark the parking lots, so everyone is lined up in their platoons.   Here are 2 of the stagers.  They say they love their jobs and always have a smile on their face.

John Staub, the president, introduces the board. He acknowledges our blue and gold start families, those active military, our vets, and of course our FNGs.

Normally we leave and the hills are beautiful, but today was a very foggy day but no rain.

The skies cleared up and we head to our first gas stop in Barstow. Ok folks let’s see how we do.  Road guards in place, fuel team directing bikes to the pump, all lined up….

….and the pumps stop working on the first bike per pump.  Not sure what happened but they had to restart the full system. Everyone just sat and waited and said, “things happen”.

Looking around, I see Gomez.  You just never know when or where he will show up.

I look around and see lots of families on the Run.  Here is Judy with her kids, William and Heather. How cool is this.  Yeah, the younger generation.

Kirk Olson is the ARC and his dad Harlan, who was an RC about 5 years ago.

This is a great way to keep the Run going!!!

Some pics of our awesome country.  Get used to it because I love showing them.

Did you ever sit at a railroad crossing and wonder how long these trains are?  Weird, but I have. Out here you can see a full train, 50-80 cars.  The technology, the mass transit, and everything behind it reflect on how our veterans have allowed us the freedom to accomplish anything.

Please remember to always take a minute to thank them, not matter where you are.

Next stop we are greeted with all these flags.  This is just a gas stop!

Amazing the support for are veterans that they are showing.

Staging team is all set up, but look at the sign above them….DQ and ice cream.  You can eat it any time right, even if it is 9;00 in the morning, right? Hahaha.  One of the road guards got an extra cone, and guess who got one….I love it.

 

Looking really good.  All working together as a team, the America way.

 Cross the Colorado River and into Needles.

They have a cool wave. Normally it is 105 in the shade.  Today it is only 93.

Lots of people waving flags.

Star Spangle is sung and then…

…… the allergies kicked in… anyone have a tissue.

They played Echoing Taps, and this gets me every time.

It was beautiful and not a person moved during it.

Needles always has the kids do something like this every year.

This year, “What being an American means to me”

…I have freedom. I can go to school, do sports. I am also safe because the US has a military”.

                                                                SO TRUE.

….means a lot because my grandpa was in the army. He fought for this country, but he died in 202-”

Kids are so honest.  Very refreshing to see how proud they are.

Yeah we finally start seeing people on the bridges….

Coming into the last gas stop of the day. Again, look at the people coming out in the middle of the day to support us. We need to keep the Run going. This is patriotism.

Only the third gas stop, and no issues so we flew thru this one. Way to go teams.

Then the closer we got to Williams, the rains came.  Not really hard but temps went from 80-60.  Hope everyone was wearing rain suits, I know I was.

Rain or shine, the town of Williams is already waiting for us.

This is the new American Legion Post Commander.  She was there greeting everyone as thy moved thru the line.  They were all so excited to be able to support us.

The food was excellent, and the desert were amazing, and all homemade.

There were several gold star family members. These women get together once a month and support our veterans several ways.

I had the fortune of sitting next to Patty. She had a son killed in Afghanistan. He was an EOD Bomb Specialist.  He had disarmed a bomb, removed his protective gear only to have it booby trapped.  He jumped on it in order to save all those around him. Her other son and grandson have both become EOD Bomb Specialists.  Thanks Patty for sharing this with me.

On the last leg of the day, Nick had lots of problems with his GMRS headset.  He could not transmit, could not hear and he said his head hurt.  Well, I guess so, he had his wife’s helmet on.  I am sure he will not live this one down.

Here is Nick, his wife and Kirk.

It was one of our longest days, and everyone looked pretty exhausted.  Get some sleep and we start again tomorrow.

You prayer warriors are doing great.  That little bit of rain was not bad, but for the next one, let’s ask that the temps do not drop so much. Thanks for all the support.

Destination: Williams AZ

Temps:  53-95(in the desert), 50

Route: I-15E , I-40E

Miles: 402

Quote for the day:

Freedom is not free

Google:

Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers 1,250 acres (510 ha), making it the largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration.  It has been the most active cemetery in the system since 2000, based on the number of interments.

Riverside National Cemetery is home of the Medal of Honor Memorial, one of four sites in the United States recognized by the U.S. Congress as a National Medal of Honor Memorial Site. The Medal of Honor Memorial walls feature the names of all medal recipients.

Definition for Medal of Honor: 

1. The highest US military decoration, awarded by Congress to a member of the armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.

The names of each of the 3,455 Medal of Honor recipients is inscribed on the polished granite. The recipients are listed in decoration date order arranged by conflict period beginning with the Civil War all the way thru Iraq / Afghanistan.

On the plaza to the memorial is a symbol for each branch of the military.

 

These are the two walls as you enter into the granite walls.

“For conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty”

The granite walls.

Some of the names we saw were Theodore Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur.  Names with stars represent that they have received more than one medal.  There are 19. 

Mary Edwards was the only female. Single names represent the native Indian.

 

Native Indians

In 2015, our FNG year, we had the privilege to ride with Leroy Petry.  He is the third name on the left.

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As I write this every day, I thought I would give you the definition of roles people play to get us cross country.  I have also listed the number of how many for each.  Here is a list you may want to reference.  Remember these are all volunteers.

TEAMS (ahead of the pack)

• Advanced road guard – 10 = first to go out and confirm there are no issues on the roads. Ex: detours, traffic issues, … even have been known to clear some debris off the road to keep us safe.  They will also be the ones at all road exchanges, so everyone makes the turns.

• Staging – 25 = Get to the next stop ahead of the pack and set up for each platoon to be staged 

• Fuel – 20 = They get to the gas station and clear all pump for the platoons to come in.  There is no one at the gas pump when we arrive.  They, along with the road guars, direct the pack how to get to the pumps and leaving the pumps

• Ambassador – 15 = Thanking the people on the bridges or in the towns for coming out and supporting the Run.

• Hydration – 6-8 – They carry water, Gatorade, snacks and are at every gas stop.  All donated by someone or organization

• Registration – 4 = In every city, they are there when we arrive, and every morning before we leave.   Since not everyone can ride 10 days, many will ride only a few days.  This team gets them signed up.

• Merchandise team – 2 = travels with the Run selling t-shirts and other trinket

• Photographer– 1 =Takes pictures along the way and post to the web site

• Raffle Rousers– 2-4 = This team will be working all the riders prior to the morning meeting. This is where we will be running 50/50, auctions,.. as our way to raise money.

• Outreach Team

This team will visit Gold Start families.  They will go to the family and as they get there, each team member introduces themselves.  They will express their condolences for their loss and thank them for service and sacrifice to their country. The Pledge of Allegiance is said and a RFTW pin is given to the family members.  There is also a Gold Star patch and a certificate of appreciation from RFTW.  A green bracelet is also given as a symbol of hope.  They will pray with them and many times cry with them.  Thanks, Outreach, for your time with our Gold Star families.

THE PACK FORMATION:

• Road guard – 30-35 = they have many jobs: stop traffic on all entrance ramps, guides us thru towns at each intersection, help direct at fuel stops, and whatever it takes to keep us safe.

• Missing man -6 – Route Coordinator (RC), state coordinator, person representing the missing man, missing man coordinator, chaplain.

• Leadership – 6-8 = Assistant Route coordinator (ARC), mentor (this is the RC from last year), leadership, any dignitary, …. this changes daily. Could be the mayor, POW… we never know who will be there from leg to leg.
  State coordinator – Total 10 for the length of the run. Usually, 1 -2 per state. They will work with the local police, state highway patrol, sheriff for escort prior to the Run.  Also coordinates with the local town for our meal stops. So, during the run, they will ride in the leadership group while going thru their state.

• Platoons – 15-20 = each platoon has a platoon leader, assistant platoon leader and 1 tail gunner.  In the middle are all the participants.  There are usually 10-12 platoons.

• Communication team – 2 = talk to truckers and 1 in back of the pack. 

• Medical team – 3-4 = there for any injuries or illnesses

• Chaplains – 3-5 = this is a very key role.  Many are on this for healing.  Many remember comrades lost in war.  This is a very emotional trip for everyone. 

• Last man – 1 – conveys to RC when the last bike is on the road/ expressway

• Sit Rep Reporter – 1 – This person gives a summary of the day 

• Chase vehicles – 3 = They have trailers and will pick up anyone running out of gas (yes this does happen) or breakdowns.

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Totals:

If you add all this up, it is around 140 people that have roles.

Participants = 15-20 per platoon – so 200-250 

At any given time, we are at 350-450 riding as a unit.

Additional Terms: 

Blue Star Family – a family with a member currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States

Gold Star Family – family member that has died during a Military Operation

FNGs = Fine new guy/gal.   We welcome them to the RFTW family.  When we see one (they wear pins that have FNG) they get hugs….. Pretty cool to be one as everyone comes to hug you.

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Our Midway route leaves a day early. We had the opportunity to see how it looks staging in the parking lot.

Pretty cool seeing all of them lined up.

Views of them leaving the parking lot. Keep all riders from all routes in your prayers for a safe journey.

Durning the day, everyone is getting last minute things done.  Midafternoon, we have a few meetings.  All are outside in the parking lot.  Beautiful day for it.

We recognize blue and gold star families, and active military.

Larry is asked to come up and talk about something that Kentucky is doing for the MIAs. He starts out by telling everyone about his brother, Glenn.  He was a Vietnam vet and was severely wounded.  He had a traumatic brain injury that left him paralyzed on his left side.  They told him he would possibly not speak again and not walk.  He spent 1 year at Walter Reed Hospital.  Glenn had told them “They carried me in, but I am going to walk out”.  And guess what, he did.  He also got a bachelor’s and master’s degree, along with many other certificates in his life, as well as being a Deacon of his church.  He walked until he was 79, and passed away at 81.

THIS IS WHY WE RIDE

The lady from Kentucky, Lorretta, has given us a binder with pages to be signed and a POW/MIA flag of a person from Kentucky that is MIA.  As we go cross country, we have asked an FNG to carry this binder and get as many signatures as possible.  Later in the year, she will then present this to the family, to show that their loved ones are not forgotten.

Jay Gohr has so graciously volunteered to do this.

The MIA is Joseph Ross.  Remember this name for later on the Run.

Here is the information we were given.

If you like to read it, click on it and it should open in full screen.

As we give this to Jay and explain a little more in detail, the gentleman in the middle of the picture, Kelly, says he knows Lorretta and he knows Joe’s brother.  WOW !!!!  What a small world.  He has an incredible story about the brothers.  Once I get the details, I will post it.

Nick will be reading bios everyday of an MIA or KIA.  He will ask someone to carry this to the wall.  We will never forget until they are home.  Say their name, they will not be forgotten.

Next Gunny gets up.  He makes a comment that who would have thought, almost 35 years ago, this would still be going on.  He is in his 80s and said that many Vietnam vets are no longer able to ride.  (There are still several in the crowd).  He commented too that we need the younger ones, 50s and 60s, to start stepping it up.   Younger??  LOL

We conclude and the platoon leaders have meetings with their riders.  These meetings go into more details of what to expect.

 

Many of the leadership team members have more than one hat, but not all have done this.  Got to have some fun.  Bernadette is the FNG Liaison and an assistant platoon leader.  Colors denote rolls.

One last item.  I may not get a chance to show these (because I will have forgotten).

Some of the bikes are just amazing for what they have painted on them.  Enjoy the pics.

 

In 2017, at our final meeting prior to leaving, Kelly Anderson “Deano” (on the staging team) sang a song that really stuck with me for all these years.  I asked him to give me the lyrics.  Remember this is from the standpoint of a Vietnam veteran after he has returned home.  Also remember this ride started in 1989, for our Vietnam vets. Deano is in the middle of this photo.

Nobody Knows.

Written by Kelly Anderson.

 

I came home my emotions raw, No one should ever see what I saw.

I came home, not to flags and Cheers. Just the ridicule throughout the years.

I took a gun and placed it to my head. Sometimes I think that I’d be better off dead.

 

Chorus:

I know there’s a wall, with the names of them all.

 I can’t make myself go, cuz nobody knows.

 

2nd verse:

I got down on my knees and prayed, God help me not to feel this way.

Then I heard about the Run for the Wall, I packed my bags and I rode with them all.

 I rode with them mile after mile, I can’t understand why they smile.

 

Chorus:

I know there’s a wall, with the names of them all.

 I can’t make myself go, cuz nobody knows.

 

3rd verse:

Day after day, town after town. I can feel myself coming around.

But I know, The Wall is up ahead, I can’t get these demons from my head.

Then I saw, 10000 people there. They said they didn’t go, but they still care.

 

Chorus:

I know there’s a wall, with the names of them all.

 I can’t make myself go, cuz nobody knows.

 

Final verse:

Family beside me, I walked down-the-line. I touched every name, and I began to cry. Brothers surround me, they wouldn’t let me go. They said they love me and that they also know.

At that moment, I knew I was home. I knew that I would never be alone. Run for the Wall, you got me here. With you beside me I can beat this fear.

 

Final chorus:

I’m at the wall, with the names of them all. You helped me to go,

Cuz SOMEBODY knows.

 

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Tomorrow should be a day of several pics.

 

It has been one heck of a day.  And it is now getting late.  Cannot wait for tomorrow!!

4:30 AM comes early.

Pray for all our riders on all 4 routes for safe travels and good weather.

 

  

Quote for the day:

You are not forgotten.