Category: Midway Route Coordinator News

Greetings RFTW family!

I hope you all had a great Independence Day holiday. I sure did. I had a pleasant visit from our old friends Mark “Diesel” Breland and Daryl “Top” Neil and their better halves Charlene and Kathy. It was a great time hanging out at the pool with these two past Route Coordinators and great RFTW supporters. I am so ready to get our RFTW family back together for 2022!

With that said, we must get our leadership and support teams built for 2022. I sent emails out to everyone I had on our list for 2021 asking to reply if you have plans to return in 2022. Unfortunately, I did not get many replies. It is important that we know ASAP if you will, or will not be returning for 2022. I know that it is still a long time till next May but our plans require work all year long. It is okay if you cannot give a definitive answer at this time but, if that is the case, please let me know that so we can put you down as questionable. Letting me or your team leader know ASAP would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. I do hope you all can return to our team.

Our Tennessee State and Assistant Coordinators, along with about a dozen other RFTW riders decided to ride the July 4th reunion route that was cancelled. As always, Cookeville was very supportive and happy to see them. They were given VIP seating for the BIG fireworks show and they all had a great time.

The new stop that we had planned for the reunion was at the Sunbright Veteran’s Memorial. The group went there and were greeted by the founder, Vietnam veteran, Charles Webb and his wife JoAnn. The group presented them a Flag donated by TN. US. Representative John Rose, with the certificate showing that it was flown over the US Capital in honor of RFTW to present to Sunbright Veterans Memorial.
It took 10 years for this small town to build the memorial. I was told that they were so happy to see representatives from RFTW there, that it brought tears to their eyes. The riders were very impressed with this stop. Plans are being worked on to see if we can incorporate this memorial as a breakout from Cookeville. We shall see…..

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that we recently lost two of our RFTW family members. Joel “Polar Bear” Brown, our NM Assistant State Coordinator and Jeff “Breeze” Starks, former Ambassador leader. Please keep them and their family in your prayers. They will be missed.

On a positive note, Will Schaeffler, son of Southern Route’s Arizona State Coordinator, Lori Ann “Leggs” Schaeffler, was in a horrible accident and his survival was in doubt. Fortunately, Will is doing better.   The Road to Recovery will be a long one.  Bills still need to be paid and his home will need some modifications to assist his rehab once he is allowed to go home. 
If you would like to help Will’s Family, Lori said you can send donations directly to her.  There are two ways: Zelle to lschaeffler@comcast.net or Apple Pay to 520-490-7612.  Any amount will make a difference. 

Have I told you lately?……………………….I love my RFTW family!
Is it May yet?

Honor, Hope & Healing
Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Greetings RFTW family!

I am writing to let you know that we are cancelling the July 2nd reunion in Tennessee. We just did not have the interest to justify the support and resources we had in place. As I mentioned in my last letter, many people did rides for Memorial Day and July 2nd is just too soon to have another event. I appreciate the ones who registered and I am sorry that we must cancel. We will refund any money paid for the reunion.

Now we will begin to set our sights on our 2022 mission. We will make it happen. I hope all of our leaders and support teams will return. We have a great team on Midway and I am honored to work and ride with all of you.

I want to encourage all of you to consider attending the reunions hosted by Southern and Central. We have a little more time before those are here. I will do my best to make them if I can and look forward to seeing everyone who is able to attend. I miss all of you ladies and gentlemen and hope you are all well.

Thank you for your continued support!
Honor, Hope & Healing

Sincerely,

Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Greetings RFTW family!

I am writing today concerning our “Sunbright Veterans Tour of Honor” reunion in Tennessee. As of this time, we only have about 20 people registered and have hotel rooms booked. 

I understand that many of you made “Memorial Day” rides and have been on the road for many days.  Some of you have just made it back home.  The reunion is right around the corner and July 2^nd will be here before we know it.  For some, this may be too much too soon.  I understand.  Unfortunately, If we do not have big enough interest in the July 2^nd reunion, we will need to cancel.   We feel that having a small showing for an RFTW reunion would do more damage to our efforts and reputation in Tennessee than not having one.  It has taken many years of efforts to establish the amazing support we now have in Tennessee.  We cannot tap into these resources and show up with a handful of people.  Let me give you some information on the support we have lined up by our Tennessee State Coordinators:

• Memphis Sherriff Department will be escorting us. They are planning on having more bikes to support us than we have registered right now!
• Honor guard for Parkers Crossroad Memorial
• Moonshine Harley Davidson is opening just to support us.  They were scheduled to be closed.
• Commissioner of Veterans Services, State Representatives and Senators, US Congressman to attend and speak in Cookeville.
• Cookeville, going all out feeding us and lining up entertainment.
• Escorts in and out of the 2^nd largest firework show in TN.
• US Congressman to attend Sunbright Veterans Memorial

Our TN State and Assistant Coordinators have worked hard to maintain RFTW visibility and support in Tennessee.  We certainly do not want a poor showing to impact our future support.

If you are planning on attending the reunion, please register and book your hotel rooms ASAP.  If we do not have a minimum of 50 bikes confirmed for the reunion by June 15^th, we will be forced to cancel.

The link to register is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSddvZrKfLGD_n5nMunmyvPROznSUU6srGHcnpcjujUiB24Q/viewform

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Greetings RFTW family!

Once again, this year’s Memorial Day was not the same without being with my RFTW family and communities that support our routes. However, RFTW is always in my heart and Memorial Day is still a special day no matter where you are. I know that all of my RFTW family will Never Forget those who have given their all for our country and our freedom. Many of you made your own rides and I appreciate all of you carrying on our mission. I hope you had great trips and made it home safe.

Now that we are in June, I want to remind everyone about our All routes reunion hosted by Midway. It will be here before you know it. I encourage all of you to register and book your hotels ASAP. July 2nd is right around the corner and your early registration will help our planning efforts. We are calling this years reunion in Tennessee the “Sunbright Vets Memorial Tour of Honor” Here is the link on our website: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSddvZrKfLGD_n5nMunmyvPROznSUU6srGHcnpcjujUiB24Q/viewform

I was looking at the Midway Hub on the RFTW.US website and saw how the info could be confusing. There is tab that says “tour of Tennessee reunion information”. I will ask for that tab to be hid because that was the information for last years reunion! This years information is under the “Sunbright Vets Memorial Tour of Honor” tab. I apologize for any confusion that has caused. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone there! Our Tennessee State and Assistant Coordinators have put together a great reunion plan for us.

It soon will be time to focus on our plans for our 2022 route. Our Midway ARC, Jerry Wilkins and I will be reaching out to our leadership and support teams in the near future. The first thing we need to do for our planning for 2022 is to make sure we have our teams in place. We truly hope that everyone will be returning to their positions for our 2022 route. We would like to have all positions confirmed ASAP.

I appreciate all of the efforts of our Midway team. I know a lot of work has been done over the last two years and it has been very disappointing that we have not been able to implement our plans for the route. I m so thankful for all of you and hope that you will stick with us another year and make our route the best it can be for 2022.

Hope to see you all at the reunion and may God continue to bless America!

Sincerely,

Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Greetings RFTW family,
I wish you all a respectful and heartfelt Memorial Day.

I dedicate this newsletter to all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country, and to my RFTW family members who, to this day, still struggle with the loss of their brothers/sisters who they served with.
Please bare with me as I do so through my selfish eyes as a father of a US Marine who served in the 2/8 in Iraq and Afghanistan and lost 16 of his brothers. My son Cory Dugas’ memorial back tattoo is pictured on the left. More work has been done since this picture. However, after all these years, it is still incomplete. The images of the 16 faces of his lost brothers continues to be worked on. His tribute should be completed soon.

Many of you may have seen the trip out west that some of our RFTW people and I just got home from. I was thrilled that I got to visit the memorial at Angle Fire for the first time. Really made our “Memorial Day” trip special.

I want to also dedicate this newsletter to two very special Marines to me. I carry their pictures and story with me on my bike 365 days a year. These two Marines are Cpl Johnathan Yale, USMC 2/8 and Cpl Jordan Haerter USMC 1/9.
These two young heroes were with my son in Al Anbar Province, Iraq when a terrorist bomber attack the camp. Jonathan and Jordan, of the now famous 6 seconds story, were at the gate and lost their lives stopping the truck rushing towards them. They saved my sons life as well as about 50 other Marines. It is because of their sacrifice and heroic actions as Marines, that I have my son today! They gave their lives so others may live. I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!

I know many of you have fought along side heroes like Jonathan and Jordan. My prayers are that they may be reaping their rewards for eternity in Heaven because they have already lived in hell. Also, for all of you to somehow be comforted in your grief and loss. I am so grateful for all who have served but today, we remember those who gave all. May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.

I will send out another newsletter shortly with updates and reminders about our upcoming Tennessee reunion in July. However, I felt it was appropriate for this newsletter and dedication to stand on its own.

Have I told you lately?………………….. I love and miss my RFTW family!

Honor, Hope and Healing

Sincerely,
Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Greetings Run For the Wall Family!

I am please to announce that the plans for the All Routes Reunion, hosted by Midway have been completed and the information will be included in this newsletter. But first, I will take care of a little Midway business.

After discussing with our ARC and our Hawgwash fund raiser sponsor, it was decided that our Midway family will continue to send donations out even though our route was cancelled again this year.
$2,000 was sent to support Milan Elementary, another $2,000 to support Falcon Children’s Home and $1,000 to support Final Salute for our homeless women veterans. I thank all of you who supported our fundraising efforts.

As a reminder, our hotel raffle will be held on May 7th. The drawing for the $1,000 prize will be recorded and posted on our Facebook page. Good luck to everyone and thanks for purchasing your raffle tickets.

We are in need of an Assistant Arizona State Coordinator capable of taking care of things in the Lake Havasu area. if interested please contact me at ken.dugas@rftw.us.

Now let’s talk about the amazing plans for the Reunion! We will be calling this years event the “Sunbright Veterans Memorial Tour of Honor“
A brief history of the Sunbright  Veterans Memorial. 
Sunbright, TN is a small rural  community in the Northeast corner of Morgan County. Mr. Charles Webb, a Vietnam Veteran, dreamed of the day Sunbright could properly honor the 830 Veterans of Sunbright. His dream of erecting a Veteran’s Memorial has taken thousands of countless hours of planning and fundraising. The challenge of erecting a worthy Memorial requires tens of  thousands of dollars which was very difficult for this small community. Mr. Webb with the support of his wife, Joann, began organizing activities and events to raise money doing bake sales, yard sales, and various fundraisers. As the community came together, enough money was raised to first erect an 80′ flagpole, followed by the brick monument and service branch flags. Although construction has progressed for several years the humble and dedicated persistence of Mr. Webb has continued to propel this Memorial to completion and dedication Memorial Day 2021.  The community is so excited and honored that our group will be going to their small, humble town to visit and pay our respects at their memorial.

This reunion will be a traveling reunion and we are in need of a volunteer to be our combination chase/hydration truck. If you can help, please contact our TN State Coordinator, Ron “Sky” King at ron.king@rftw.us.

The hotel blocks are open for reservations. The registration and agenda for the reunion is on our RFTW.US website under the Midway hub. The link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSddvZrKfLGD_n5nMunmyvPROznSUU6srGHcnpcjujUiB24Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

It is important to book your rooms and register for the reunion ASAP. The hotels will increase our blocks as long as rooms are available. We also need head counts for food and activities, so the sooner you register and make your reservations the better it is for our planning. With this said, please note that you will be able to register at the door should your planning require.

Hope to see as many of you as possible at all the reunions. Safe riding to all of you who will be on the road for Memorial Day.

Have I told you lately?……………..I love my RFTW family!
Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Hotel info and Reunion agenda below:

Sunbright Veterans Memorial Tour of Honor – Hosted by Midway Route
2 July – 5 July, 2021

Come join the fun in Tennessee over 4^th July weekend.  We will be riding half way across the State of Tennessee.  Planned activities include two wreath laying ceremonies, Song Writers Night Out, Moonshine Harley Davidson Dealer party, and ride to Cookeville for dinner and 2^nd largest firework show in Tennessee, and visit to Sunbright Veterans Memorial and Brushy Mountain Prison, open evenings in Memphis and Nashville, and – and – and.

Hotel reservation blocks are open and closes 5 June 2021.

Memphis, TN (2 July 2021)
Crown Plaza Memphis Downtown
300 N. Second Street., Memphis, TN 38103
Reservation Number: 1-901-525-1800 or 1-800-2CROWNE
Group Rate: $119.00 (Plus $3.00 Parking Per Room)
Group Name: Run-For-The-Wall Veterans Reunion 2021

Franklin, TN (3 July 2021)
Drury Plaza Hotel
1874 West McEwen Ave., Franklin, TN 37067
Reservation Number:  1-800-325-0720
Group Number:  2437401  (Rate $127.00)
Group Name:  Veteran’s Reunion, Run-For-The-Wall

Cookeville, TN (4 & 5 July 2021)
Country Inn & Suites
1151 S. Jefferson Ave., Cookeville, TN 38506
Reservation Number:  1-931-525-6668
Group Rate $85.00
Group Name:  Reunion Run-For-The-Wall

Agenda

Friday, 2 July
1500 – 1700           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
1730 – 1800          Rider Meeting Hotel Parking Lot
1800 – until           Dinner On Your Own Downtown Or Beale Street Music and Blues!

Saturday, 3 July
0700 – 0800           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
0700 – 0850          Hot Breakfast @ Hotel
0900 – 0915          St Mary’s Catholic Church West Parking Lot (Rider Meeting)
0915 – 0925          Blessing of the Bikes
0930 – 1100          I-40 to Exit 108 Parkers Crossroad, TN State Veterans Cemetery
1100 – 1130          Lay Wreath (693 Wildersville Road, Wildersville, TN)
1140 – 1250          Parkers Crossroads City Park (Subway $7.00 ea.) (1:10 Lunch Stop)
1300 – 1330          Fuel Stop Marathon (Gas and GO)
1330 – 1540          Ride to Host Hotel, Drury Plaza, Franklin, TN
1715 – 1800          Lobby Reception / Registration
1830 – 1855          Stage & Ride to Kimbro’s ($10.00 ea. cover / pay as you go bar & food)
1900 – until           Song Writers @ Kimbro’s Pickin Parlor, Franklin, TN or On Your Own

Sunday, 4 July 2020
0800 – 0830           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
0700 – 0900          Hot Breakfast @ Drury Plaza Hotel
1030 – 1045          Rider Meeting Hotel Parking Lot
1050 – 1100          Hotel Parking Stage for ride to Moonshine Harley Davidson
1100 – 1110          Ride to Moonshine Harley Davidson (Free Lunch) Or Lunch On Your Own
1100 – 1300          Moonshine HD (2:00 Lunch)
1300 – 1310          Stage for ride to Cookeville, TN
1310 – 1530           VA Hospital Visit Murfreesboro, TN (1:00 Visit)
1530 – 1700          Arrive Leslie Town Center, Cookeville
1700 – 1900          Reception and Dinner Cookeville (Auction for Sunbright Veterans Memorial)
1940 – until          Stage Hotel Parking Lot then Move to Fireworks & Return (LEO Escort)

Monday, 5 July 2020
0800 – 0815           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
0700 – 0830          Hot Breakfast @ Hotel
0845 – 0900          Hotel Parking Stage (Rider Meeting)
0900 – 1030          Arrive Sunbright Veterans Memorial
1030 – 1115           Memorial Service Wreath Laying (01:00)
1115 – 1155          Arrive Brushy Mountain Prison/Distillery/Gift Shop
1155 – 1450          Brushy Mountain Lunch/Self Guided Tour  ($25.00 ea.)
1500 – 1530          Arrive Petro’s Marathon (00:30 Gas and Go)
1530 – 1705          Arrive Host Hotel (End of Mission) Dinner On Your Own

            Note: All times Central Daylight Time (Sunbright and Brushy Mountain are on Eastern Daylight Time)

Cost (each)
Registration                                                                                    $35.00
Subway Lunch City Park 3 July                                                 $7.00
Kimbro’s Picking Parlor (Optional)                                        $10.00
Brushy Mountain Prison Tour and Lunch                             $25.00

                                                                   Total:                  $77.00 or $67.00ea.

Register at RFTW online or at any overnight location each morning at the Hotel Lobby Registration Table.

Pay via Check by 25 June 2021 mail to:
                             Pam Dier for RFTW Reunion
                             8454 Florida Blvd.
                             Denham Springs,  LA   70726

Pay via PayPal by 25 June 2021:
rftw.pamdier@gmail.com
                             Send it as: Friends and Family or PayPal will take a portion.

Greetings Run for the Wall family!

We are getting close to the time when we all should be preparing to head to Ontario for our RFTW XXXII mission. Unfortunately, we have to face the painful reality that our 2021 route has once again been cancelled. I know several of you will still be hitting the road to honor our heroes and keep the memory of all of those killed in action, and still unaccounted for missing in action and POWs. I wish you all safe travels. WE WILL NEVER FORGET! Let’s all do our part to keep this Memorial Day a special day of remembrance and appreciation no matter where we find ourselves this year. The most disappointing part of the cancellation of our 2021 route for me is the fact that I will not be able to spend this special time with my RFTW family and the communities and people who support us.

With that said, I hope to attend as many reunions as I can to be with all of you again. Two years is too long! I am pleased to announce that Midway will be hosting another “all routes” reunion over the 4th of July weekend. It will be in Tennessee again and will be a moving reunion. It will begin in Memphis on July 2nd, then Nashville area July 3rd, and Cookeville on the 4th with a bonus night and plans for July 5th. More details will be coming soon but I wanted to let everyone know about this so you can plan for this time for the reunion. I want to thank Ron King and Ed Butler for, once again, coordinating this years reunion. These guys are doing a great job! Registration information and details to come soon.

I will have the drawing for our $1000.00 hotel raffle on Friday May 7th at 13:00 central time. If you will be hitting the roads, you could win some extra travel money! I will record/video this drawing so that it can be witnessed by whoever would like to watch the drawing. There are only 24 entries so your chance of winning is pretty good! We raised $2,200 from this raffle so the winner will get $1,000 and the Midway Route will have $1,200 go towards our 2022 route.

Wishing you all safe travels, health and happiness!

Honor, Hope & Healing

Ken “Six String” Dugas
RFTW Midway Route Coordinator