Category: Midway Route SitReps

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Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – September 2026

RFTW Feature Midway Route

260 Days to KSU!

Now that the ‘DOG Days of Summer” are subsiding and as we celebrate Labor Day, back to school and football season we need to start thinking of what we need to do between now and next May to be prepared for the Midway Mission.

Hello FNG’s and Returning riders

Welcome to the Midway family! Let’s do a quick review of what our RFTW Organization is all about.

You do not need to be a veteran to ride, everyone is welcome! The ages of the participants range from eight to eighty. These include mothers, fathers, grandfathers, and grandmothers! Among the ridership you will find veterans, active-duty military, patriots, supporters, friends, and family.

“Is It May Yet”?

The Run occurs every May with the three coast to coast routes beginning around the middle of the month and culminating on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The fourth route “Sandbox”, begins on Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend. You will often hear members of the RFTW family lament, “Is it May yet?” because we are excited about this great ride and experience that we are preparing for you and wish it were May already.

Coast to Coast 2027
Ontario, California to Washington, D.C.

Midway Route:   Central Route:   Southern Route: All leave on Wednesday, May 19 – May 29 (10 days)

Wall to Wall
Washington, D.C. to Marseilles, Illinois

Sandbox Route:  May 30 – June 1 (3 days)

We Ride For Those Who Can’t

Run For The Wall began in 1989 as an effort by a couple of Vietnam Veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles, talking to local radio, television, and newspapers about the fact that we had thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from all our wars.

The need for this awareness continues, so RFTW riders maintain this tradition every May by riding their motorcycles from “coast to coast”, and since 2022 from “wall to wall” honoring the men and women who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice from the gulf war conflicts.

RFTW does not give political speeches or stage demonstrations. Run For The Wall emphasizes its message by traveling through the United States in a safe and orderly manner, obeying traffic laws and treating all citizens with respect. Our motto is, “We Ride For Those Who Can’t”.

Raising public awareness is only part of the Mission of Run For The Wall. RFTW also gives veterans (from Vietnam and all wars and conflicts) the opportunity to receive the Welcome Home they so richly deserve, and an encouraging environment where they can further their healing process.

Many who have served our country, especially in combat, return with issues that may be unresolved. This can also extend to friends and families who have experienced the range of emotion and trauma associated with having a loved one go off to serve. RFTW riders find healing and camaraderie in the Run For The Wall family. They can finally start settling issues that have been put away for years.

Together We Ride

Run For The Wall is a motorcycle ride like none other. It is definitely not a party, but rather a mission of honor and an odyssey of patriotism and respect through the heart of the United States of America. On the Run we ride side by side (and in some cases staggered) in parade formation all the way. Each Route is led by a Route Coordinator and an Assistant Route Coordinator. At the head of the pack is the Missing Man formation.

The Missing Man Formation
The Missing Man Formation is a rolling salute to honor the memory of the fallen, KIA, MIA, or POW. Five bikes ride in formation with a space where one bike should be, symbolizing the person’s absence. On each leg of each route we honor a different individual in the Missing Man Formation. There is a short ceremony just prior to the departure of the pack and we SAY THEIR NAMES so that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.  Once again Midway’s MMF will be led by James “Juice” Brown so be sure to contact him at James.brown.cbrr@hotmail.com with potential MM riders contact information so that he can get their spot reserved.

You will also notice that the riders participating in the Missing Man Formation do not wave at onlookers while riding in formation. Their ride is solemn and sincere – a rolling salute. This is the highest form of honor and respect and serves as a stark reminder of those who sacrificed their future for that of our nation. May their memories always be a blessing and may we never forget that freedom is not free.

The main pack of motorcycles is divided into platoons. Each platoon is headed by a Platoon Leader and an Assistant Platoon Leader as well as one or two Tail Gunners to help pace the group.

While most of the vehicles are conventional two-wheeled motorcycles (of all makes and models), there is also a healthy contingent of trikes and three-wheel vehicles such as Can-Am Spyders – and even a few motorcycles and trikes who tow trailers. That said, we do allow 4-wheel vehicles to register and drive the route of their choice, with the proviso that 4-wheelers drive 15 minutes (give or take) ahead of the pack and not interfere with the parking or staging of the pack at any of the stops. (Alternatively, 4-wheel vehicles may drive behind the pack, behind the last man vehicle and any chase trucks/trailers, but we prefer that you drive out ahead….) Four-wheel vehicle participants will still be able to take part in all the RFTW activities, but you must remain safely out of the way of the motorcycle pack. Please consider that some fuel stops and/or lunch stops are quite compressed and room to maneuver any 4-wheel vehicle around the 300-400 motorcycles staged in tight quarters could be challenging. (Polaris Slingshot – Our Official Policy on Polaris Slingshot’s is that these vehicles are the size of and essentially a “small car” and will follow the aforementioned protocol of other 4-wheel vehicles.)

Registration

Registration for the 2027 Run For The Wall will open on September 11th, 2026 @ 8:46 a.m. (EST), 7:46 a.m. (Central), 6:46 a.m. (MST), 5:46 a.m. (PST)

Please put this on your calendar, make a cup of coffee and be ready when registration opens. We really need your support on this to gather data necessary for additional planning. Thank you, in advance for your support.

Pre-Paid Fuel                                                          

As in 2026, we will have the mandatory pre-paid fuel program for 2027. This proved quite successful and was well received by both the riders and our Road Guards and Fuel Team.  My leadership team and I are researching costs to come up with a fair cost that you can pay when you register or on siter in Ontario. If you’re a day rider and only have a few days to join us then your fuel cost will be prorated.  We hope to maintain the same cost as in 2026. This program is extremely important so that our road guards and fuel team traffic control personnel can get you quickly off the road, into the pumps and to the staging location as safely and efficiently as possible where you can get off your vehicle, get hydrated and use the facilities. If you are fumbling in your wallet for money to pay your fuel cost, it lengthens the time for each vehicle at the pump.

Opportunities

Are you interested in further supporting Midway Route this year? Do you like being a part of the planning process? So, if you are not an FNG and have gone all the way at least once then I have some awesome and rewarding opportunities for you.  Volunteer signup forms are on the RFTW web site or can be reached at this link.  Midway Route Volunteer Signup Form

Current team openings on Midway are:

Chaplain, Promotions, Ambassadors, Medical, Road Guards, Advance Team, Fuel Team, Staging, Asst. Arkansas State Coordinator, Asst. Oklahoma State Coordinator and Asst. North Carolina State Coordinator.

We would love to have you join us as a member of our leadership team!!  So fill out the Volunteer Signup From and we’ll get it to the team lead and they will be in contact.

Here we GROW!

Let’s all see if we can help grow our Midway riders for ’27.  Please reach out to your friends, family, riding buddies or anyone else who you think would like to be a part of the largest organized coast to coast ride in the world.   By convincing a fellow veteran to ride with you to acquire the healing this adventure provides to many veterans who are struggling with their service.

Feel free to promote the Run generally and Midway specifically.  Below are a few marketing collateral items you can use to help you “spread the word”.

Fund Raising

We can all help the Run by doing a little fund raising.  Feel free to solicit local motorcycle shops, VFW’s, American Legion Posts, local business, etc…  Anyone can help secure funds for Midway by interacting with any or all of those entities.  There are a few guidelines to follow so if you would like more information on the process please give me a jingle.   Randy.sheets@rftw.us.

RFTW Mission Statement

“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.”

Please join our mission, get personally involved, pass the word and always remember the ones who went before us and some who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Say their names”  “Never Forget”  “Tell their stories”

IS IT MAY YET!

Stinger

Randy “Stinger” Sheets
Midway Route Coordinator 2027

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Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – August Update!

We Ride For Those Who Can't

Greetings Midway Family,

I hope your summer is going well!  We’re almost to September which brings cooler weather, the beginning of Fall and Fall Colors and football!  We also have some exciting news to share regarding our current Board of Directors.  After 5 years, John “Turkey” Staub is cycling off the Board as President and Billie “Bugs” Dunlap has assumed that position.  Alan “X-Box” Steiner is also leaving the Board after 3 years as Operations Director.

Also in transition on the Board are a few current Board members who are moving into new roles as well.  Ted “Boots” Kapner is leaving the Board and his position of Public Relation Director of 5+ years to use his skills as Assistant Route Coordinator for Central Route.  Ted will continue to Co-Host our Podcast with Tai “Hitch” Harmon so keep looking for those informative and sometime funny postings.  The podcast can be reached here.  RFTW Podcasts

Please join me in thanking these three fine folks who have worked very hard at leading and improving RFTW as we continue to successfully plan towards completing our mission, and it is a mission.

We have some new additions to the board as well.  They are “Branda “Baby Doll” Huddleston as Secretary and Kirk “Pretty Boy” Olson as Public Relation Director.  Please check out the President’s posting on these changes and to get to know more about your Board members.  Here’s the link: RFTW Presidents Newsletter .

Finally, we have an open position on the Board which anyone can apply for.  It’s our Operations Director was recently vacated as Alan “X-Box” Steiners term has ended.  You can find out the requirements for this position at : Operations Director Application so if you are looking for a meaningful, but challenging way to support RFTWs mission and riders feel free to apply.

“Say their names”

“Never Forget”

“Tell their stories”

IS IT MAY YET!

Stinger

Randy “Stinger” Sheets
Midway Route Coordinator 2027

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Central Route Chronicles: August 2026 Edition

Horton and Boots Angel Fire

While traveling to Dallas for our annual Face to Face meeting with the Board of Directors and other Route Coordinators, a myriad of thoughts rolled through my head as it pertains to our mission.  We as a group spend countless hours planning and executing what is the largest organized cross-country ride to honor our veterans.  So I ask you… What is your why?  Why do YOU ride?  I am often asked this question when doing interviews with local media.  Do we focus on the mission year-round or do we just go through the motions for 10 days?  I challenge every rider to ask yourself this question.  It takes everyone moving in the same direction to make it work.

August is a special time of year for vacations and spending time with our families, but our State Coordinators are already contacting our hosts and raising funds. During the Run, you will notice that for 10 days, we are fed breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And how much do you pay for it? Nothing. This is due to our State Coordinators. Without them, the Run would not happen. If you see a brown hat walking around at any of our stops, thank them for their efforts. I want to personally thank every one of them for their hard work and dedication.

As we are in the initial stages of building our leadership team, I want to encourage you to fill out the volunteer application form. It can be found HERE. When your application is received, we will forward it to the appropriate team lead. On the Central Route Hub Contact list found HERE, you will notice that it is pretty bare. I encourage you to look through the list and see if there is any position that you may be interested. Keep in mind that FNG’s are not permitted to volunteer for these positions, as we want them to experience the Run without the obligation to a team.

ANGEL FIRE REUNION

Angel Fire

Registration for the Angel Fire Reunion is currently open!  REGISTER HERE. If you would like to attend this amazing service project, I encourage you to register.  Registration will be closing August 21st.  You will not be disappointed!  Keep in mind that this is not an official Run for the Wall event, and it is not just for the Central Route.  Many riders from all Routes have attended.

Horton - RFTW Central Route Coordinator

Todd “Horton” Taylor
Central Route Coordinator

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Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – August 2026

We Ride For Those Who Can't

293 Days to KSU!

Hello Midway Family!!!  Now that we’re into August and the dog days of summer, I hope you have had, or are having a very enjoyable time with friends and family.  Soon school will start up again, Fall will hit first then Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, Valentines Day, Easter and before you know it RFTW ’27 will be upon us!!  It goes by fast and we are already very busy planning for next May.

The Board of Directors have approved my recommendations for your Assistant Route Coordinator (ARC) and Road Guard Captain (RGC) for 2026. They are Mark Brundage, “OX”  as ARC and Ryan Long, road name “Pipes” as RGC. Congratulations to both and I look forward to working with this leadership team in developing and providing you with the best Midway route experience in 2027.

 

NEW NEWS

After our face to face Board of Directors meeting in Dallas here are a few tidbits from that meeting.  There are a few Directors who are term limited and will be dropping off the board in a few weeks.  John “Turkey” Staub will be leaving the board as President and Billie “Bugs” Dunlap will become President.  Corey “Sunbear” Lederer will move from Secretary to Vice President.

There have been a few changes to the SOP mostly driven by the increased requirements and cost of the RFTW Insurance policy company. They can be very restrictive and intrusive. Insurance costs have increased by over 50% in the last two years and have required the Board of Directors to develop additional safety protocols and internal procedures before they approve liability Insurance for the RFTW. For all you business owners, you are probably dealing with more restrictive insurance requirements also, so you know. There is really nothing you can do when the law says you are required to have insurance, right!

With this increased insurance cost in mind, a registration fee increase was voted last year on and approved by ALL members, me included, to cover some of the lost revenue due to the additional insurance cost.  That cost has been maintained for our ’27 Run

2027 all routes registration costs will be:

  • $100.00 early bird, Sept 11, 2026 – Jan 31,2027 (Please register early)
  • $120.00 starting Feb 1,2027
  • $100.00 Day riders for up to three days

Last year we left Ontario on Wednesday with the other routes and combined days 10 & 11 into day 10.  For ’27 we’ll be looking to adjust a few times on site and locations to benefit our riders as well as our hosts.

Your state coordinators are beginning the process of contacting all daily stops within their respective states to ensure a seamless experience for you in 2027. The State Coordinators are some of the unsung heroes who quietly provide a lot of time towards developing new experiences including parades, museums, veteran homes, great lunches and dinners, etc. for you that support the mission of RFTW. They receive limited recognition for these efforts and carry out this crucial work to ensure the success of the Midway route. Their pay is a “Thank You”, so please give them that when you meet one.

All other Leadership leads are also starting the process of developing their teams and starting their training for a successful 2027.

Speaking of Leadership, I have some key positions that are open and need dedicated professional individuals who are willing to provide some of their time in the development of a team that supports the mission and the Midway family.

They are currently:

Promotions Team Leader, Registration team members, Chaplains, Medics, Chase vehicle drivers (requires a pickup with a trailer for hauling motorcycles), Platoon Leaders, Assistant

Platoon Leaders and Platoon Tail Gunners. Of course, we can always use more fuel, staging and road guard team personnel.

If you are interested in any of these positions or any position in leadership, please submit a volunteer form and we will contact you > https://rftw.us/volunteer-sign-up/.

It is not too late for returning riders from last year to submit an after action report (AAR) discussing their thoughts on the 2026 Midway route. All comments are welcome and can only help me to provide a better experience for the 2027 Midway route. So please take advantage of this opportunity. After Action Report – RFTW

If you haven’t seen our Podcast, you should check it out at  RFTW Podcast – RFTW   Here you will get a lot of information regarding the Run and hear from various guests as they talk about their experiences and duties they perform to assist Midway’s mission.

Any ideas any of you may have to improve Midways social media footprint please feel free to contact me at randy.sheets@rftw.us with your ideas and I will discuss it with our social media team.  All ideas are welcome!!!!

Riding a motorcycle is fun, it’s enjoyable being out in the open and getting a good dose of “wind therapy.”  What a lot of rides overlook is that riding a bike is a lot of work and you need to be in some sort of shape to do it safely.  Our cross-country ride is very physically demanding on the body with early mornings and long days on the bike.  So please keep walking, running, swimming, hiking, going to the gym or maybe playing a lot of golf (No cart). Just keep moving. The bulk of our riders are 60 plus and closing in on retirement or are already there.  I know firsthand why being in “motorcycle riding shape” is so important.  I was not in rider shape this past May and I dropped my bike, knocked myself out, bruised my ego at our Halifax, NC fuel stop.  Thankfully, Bling Bling only had some bumps and bruises, but we both ended up with an ambulance ride to the hospital where I was treated for a mild concussion.  So, my advice to you and my plan between now and KSU in addition to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate is to practice, practice, practice!!!

Be sure to check in regularly as I’ll be posting a newsletter every month with interesting tidbits and news regarding our ’27 RFTW mission.

Much more to follow !!!!!!!

Enjoy your Summer!

“Tell their Stories”  “Say their Names”  “Never Forget”

“We ride for those who can’t”

“IS IT MAY YET!

Stinger

Randy “Stinger” Sheets
Midway Route Coordinator 2027

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Angel Fire Reunion 2026

Angel Fire

Greetings, fellow Run For The Wall riders!

As I write this, the weather here in West Virginia has been unseasonably hot and humid. I hope that wherever you are in this great country, you are enjoying pleasant weather during the vacation season.

I wanted to share an update about our Annual Angel Fire Reunion, which takes place over Labor Day weekend. First, I want to emphasize that this is not an official Run For The Wall-sanctioned event. We will be gathering as like-minded individuals to complete our annual workday, volunteering our time to lay bricks at the Angel Fire Memorial, and to reunite with our brothers and sisters from all routes.

With that being said, I am happy to announce that registration is now OPEN!

Patti “Yogi” Finley has been coordinating our dinners for Friday and Saturday evenings. As we did last year, we will have dinner Friday evening at the Laguna Vista Saloon and Saturday evening at the Senior Center. The total cost for both dinners is $45. Kathryn “Dark Cloud” Ewing has graciously volunteered to collect the payments.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer!

Horton

Todd “Horton” Taylor
RFTW 2027 Central Route Coordinator
West Virginia State Coordinator

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Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – July 2026

Randy "Stinger" Sheets

My name is Randy Sheets, and my road name is “Stinger”.

I was honored to be your Midway Route 2026 Assistant Route Coordinator and even more honored to have been confirmed by the BoD as your 2027 Run For The Wall – Route Coordinator. I’m happy to announce that my nomination for your Midway Assistant Route Coordinator is Mark Brundage, road name “Ox” and your Midway Road Guard Captain is Ryan Long, road name “Pipes” were confirmed by the Board of Directors.

A bit about me, I’m an Air Force Veteran who served from 1976-1980.  My career field was in Telecommunications.  After basic training in San Antonio, I did my technical school at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS.  After tech school, I was stationed at Carswell AFB in Ft Worth, TX.  It was a SAC base at that time, and I always enjoyed watching the “Buffs” come and go as it meant freedom to me.  In 1978, I was stationed in Okinawa at Kadena AFB until I was honorably discharged in May of 1980.  After that, I turned my Air Force training into a career, first by working in the Cable TV field as a technician and eventually as the Technical Operations Manager with Comcast in Indianapolis for 17 years.  I then took a Sr. Sales and Engineering position in the field of video transport over fiber optics until I retired in 2023.

With respect to the Run, my FNG year was in 2014, the year of the first Midway route.  I rode in the pack in ‘14 & ’15 because, like a lot of our riders, I did not have enough vacation time to go “All the Way”.  In 2016 I gained another weeks’ vacation and my wife at the time asked me what we are going to do with that extra week and I replied, “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to Ontario”.  Once I recovered from the frying pan hitting me in the head I was able to go to Ontario.

2016 was my first year in Leadership.  I was a Tail gunner with the trailer platoon.  What an experience that was.  From 2017 on, other than the covid years, I was a Road Guard.  In 2024 & 2025 I had to tap out due to a hip replacement in April of ’24 and another medical issue grounded me in ’25.  I thought ’26 might be in jeopardy as I needed a redo of the previous hip replacement which I had done just 6 weeks before KSU in Ontario.  I was determined to ride, but hadn’t really ridden in 3 years as I was in some state of recovery from surgeries.  I must agree that it is true that if you don’t practice your skills by riding you lose them and this showed for sure during  the Run, so the moral of that is, besides hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, you need to practice, practice, practice!

You know that the Run, besides all the fun, camaraderie, seeing familiar faces, renewing friendships and meeting new folks, the Run, or as I like to say, the mission is to promote healing and demand a full accounting for our lost men and women who have not yet come home.

FNG’s – Friendly New Guys / Gals

Our FNG’s are the one thing that makes RFTW so meaningful.  Everyone is welcome to ride with us as having served is not a requirement.  If you go all the way or just a day or two you will find a caring and open atmosphere so, please keep coming back and tell all of your friends and family about RFTW and invite them to join us.

The 2027 route KSU is May 19th at 07:00 from Ontario, CA. Registration will open on September 11, 2026, and the hotel list comes out in early January.  The Midway Itinerary will be developed by our State Coordinators and released in early ’27.  Updates to follow on these important dates.  If you are interested in filling a Leadership position then go to the link and fill out the request form.   Volunteer Sign-Up – Run For The Wall®

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this month and as we move forward, we must all remember that “Freedom isn’t free”, it was earned and is maintained with the blood, sweat and tears of our soldiers, sailors airmen, marines and patriots who have made America what she is today, a bastion of freedom and the envy of the world.

In closing, 2027 is going to be a remarkable year for the Run. We will continue the mission to promote healing among all veterans, their family and friends, to call for an accounting of all POW’s and those still missing in action, to honor the memory of those KIA from all wars and to support our military personnel all over the world.

Say their names.

Never forget.

This is why we ride.

Randy “Stinger” Sheets
Midway Route Coordinator 2027

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Central Route Coordinator – Introduction

Horton and Boots

Greetings fellow Central Route Riders.

My name is Todd “Horton” Taylor, and I am honored to have been confirmed by the Board of Directors to be your 2027 Central Route Coordinator.

First off, I want to thank last year’s Route Coordinator, Jim “Who?” McDonough for his leadership and guidance. Secondly, I would not be able to take on this monumental task without a strong leadership team. With that being said, I would like to introduce your 2027 Central Route Assistant Route Coordinator, Ted “Boots” Kapner. Our focus is to make 2027 a safe and memorable year.

Stay tuned for my July newsletter as it will have information concerning our upcoming Angel Fire Reunion!

Horton

Todd “Horton” Taylor
RFTW 2027 Central Route Coordinator
West Virginia State Coordinator

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June 2026 Central Route Coordinator Newsletter

on the step of WV state capitol

I hope everyone made it home safely and enjoys the rest of your summer. This will be my last newsletter as RC. It has been an honor and privilege to take you across our great Nation and meet great people along the way.

For the last year, many people have worked tirelessly behind the scenes in making the RFTW XXXVI a success and I could not have done this without those people and those that mentored me along the way.

Thank you everyone, especially the past RC’s, for your support and help when I needed it most.

This year’s Run was a little different than those in the past. For the first time in since 2022, all three coast to coast routes left on the same day. We helped celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The Central and Southern Route joining together on the last day as we rode in together as one group, as one family into the National Capitol area.  We laid a brick in honor of a past RFTW Rider at Angel Fire.  The Central Route had a couple of special guests and even though the weather was a little soggy towards the end, we were able to get through it safely and without any major incidents.

To the Platoon leadership. Thank you all for instilling the Run for the Wall spirit into your FNG’s and teaching them the Run for the Wall traditions and way of riding.  For some riders, it was not an easy transition, but almost all stuck through it to the end.  This is in no small part due to your Platoon leadership and skill.  This Ride could not have been done without the orange hats!

To the Road Guards, who are an outstanding group of individuals, you kept our Run safe and moved us along efficiently. The Run would not be what it is today, without you and the leadership of your Road Guard Captain, Boots. Thank you!

To out Missing Man Coordinator, Bones did fantastic job and he has reminded us as to why we do this Run.

To the Outreach and Ambassadors, thank you for spreading the word to the General Public about the Run and meeting with Gold Star families, schools, the people on the roadsides and overpasses before we rode by.  Thank you Professor, Cow Pie and Old Girl!

To the Leadership support group, which kept the plaques and certificates flowing, paying for the gas, and helping generate financial support for our donors. This Run would not be successful without you.

To our FNG coordinator, Platoon Coordinator, and registration team, thank you for answering people’s questions and sorting out all the personnel issues involved in such a large group.

To our hydration team and merchandise team. Despite your mechanical and logistical issues along the Run, you always made it work and were able to provide the services we needed at our stops.

To the Chase vehicles, for without them, many of you Riders would not have been able to make it across the country.

To our State Coordinators. As I have said many times, these people are the reasons we have the public donations support, from food, gas, people, donors, and tolls. They are the reason why your fuel sticker was low as why you gained weight during the Run.

To our fuelers and stagers, the run would not start or end without you. You provided much-needed support and tactical weather reports of what was ahead to the main pack. Thank you!

To our Chaplains, you provided our Riders the spiritual guidance and support throughout the Run, even though some Riders did not think they needed it. Your prayers helped us all and you are all truly a blessing for the Run.

To the Medical Team and Risk Manager. I did not hear much from you guys, so no news is good news. Hopefully it was a mostly uneventful ride for you all.  Thank you!

Finally, to the Riders. The Run would not be the Run without the Riders. We met as strangers in Ontario coming from various parts of the country with different ways of doing things.  After 10 days across the country, we became friends and part of the RFTW family. Your patience and persistence paid off as we sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and laid the Mission complete plaque at the apex of the Vietnam Wall.

This ride probably tested most resulting in some making changes to their rain gear and riding styles. I am sure that for all “former” FNG’s, this ride impressed you in ways that words would never describe, and I hope you all decide to continue the RFTW mission and promote the Run.

Some of you will get the “fever” and decide to return, some may also volunteer for some added responsibility to support the Run. Some of you may not and that is OK. But all of you will have lifelong memories of the Run and can proudly say, “I went all the Way!” on the largest organize cross country motorcycle ride!

I would like to mention a few people who have expressed to me that they are stepping back, and volunteers are needed to help fill their shoes on the Run.

One is Tommy Cranford, our Last Man Vehicle. The Last Man Vehicle holds an especially important job during the Run of coordinating the chase vehicles to respond to those on the side of the road as well as reporting to the RC and others as well as the conditions of the pack during the Run.  Some of the other things he does outside of the Run, separate of being the Last Man Vehicle, is maintaining the Central Route inventory gear before and after the Run.  Tommy sustained an injury during the Run and is currently going through the healing process.  He indicated to me that 2026 would be his last Run, so if anyone is interested in one or both these important jobs, please let the Central leadership know.

Thank you, Tommy, for the outstanding work you have done!

The other is the State Coordinator position for New Mexico. Patty Finley has articulated to me several times that she can no longer do the job. The Central Route spends three days in New Mexico and Patty has been responsible for coordinating the activities in the State of New Mexico.  Much of our donated fuel, food, and activities are due, in no small part, to the tireless work Patty has done.  If you live in New Mexico and can help in anyway, please let the Central Leadership know.

Thank you, Patty, for the outstanding work you have done!

David Parkhill our Illinois State Coordinator, is also stepping back from the job. Chris Braden has been selected as his replacement. Thank you, David, for the great job you have done as Illinois State Coordinator and a hearty welcome to Chris.  Dave, we hope to see you at the Mt. Vernon lunch stop in the future.

During your ten days on the run, there are those that made a great impression on you during this Run. Try and maintain those relationships. Time is fleeting and as the Rolling Stones once said, “Time waits for no one and it won’t wait for me… Hours are like diamonds, don’t let them waste… Drink in your summer, gather your corn. The dreams of the nighttime will vanish by dawn.”

Talk about the Run with your friends and acquaintances. There may be some myths or misconceptions about what the Run is all about. Tell them about your experiences as you put a face to the Run.

The Run has changed dramatically over the years and continues to evolve as we strive to meet all the commitments and expectations from the public, donors and our riders. The Run is not perfect but each year we try to make it better much due in part to the comments provided by the Riders.

After Action Report – Run For The Wall®

It is your opportunity as a participant in RFTW to provide feedback about your experience on the Run, both good and bad. All AAR’s are taken seriously and read by the Board and Route leadership. AAR’s in the past have resulted in changes in operating procedures. So, your feedback matters.

The link to the form is here.

If you are up to the challenge, the Run needs volunteers to help in 2027. Fill out a volunteer form if you are interested in contributing. The hours may be long and the pay not so good, but the rewards are great!

The volunteer link is here. Volunteer Sign-Up – Run For The Wall®

It is bittersweet that I must relinquish this job and thank you all once again for your trust in allowing me to lead you across our great country. I have been humbled by all the support you have given me and will always remember the experiences you all have provided.  Please show the same level of support to the next RC!

As always, please remember our Mission Statement:

 

Mission Statement

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.

Is it May yet?

Jim “Who?” McDonough
XXXVI Central Route Coordinator

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Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – June 2026

RFTW Rider Survey

I arrived home in southern California 5 days ago and it seems like yesterday.

Welcome home to all and “Happy Father’s Day”. Can you believe how fast time is just flying by.

This year’s run leaves me with so many fond memories. Some of profound joy of seeing old friends and meeting new ones and some of Immense sadness of loss and maybe the realization that time stands still for no one. But before I expound on these feelings and more let me express my profound gratitude to your 2026 Leadership team. The leaders and their respective teams worked tirelessly since the end of 2025 to ensure your experience in 2026 would be enlightening, memorable and healing for many. These volunteers were State Coordinators, Road Guards, Missing Man Coordinator, Platoon Coordinator, Platoon Leaders, Asst Platoon Leaders, Tail Gunners, Financial services, Risk Management, Photographer, Sit rep writers, Hotel/Camping Coordinator, RC assistants and the many individuals from our local communities that welcomed us and fed us all across this country.

I would be remiss if I did not single out some individuals who went above and beyond in supporting me and giving me the ability to make this year’s run meaningful, fun, healing and hopefully a memory you will cherish and share with your children and grandchildren in the future.

Jerry Wilkins was not only my mentor this year, he was also the Midway routes California state coordinator, hotel coordinator, camping coordinator, Advance team Road Guard and Registration Team Lead. Thank you, Jerry for keeping me “On Track” and providing sage guidance daily. You were always there for me and the Midway family.

Michelle DeLa Cruz became my guiding light starting on day one. She always was ready to help with anything I needed assistance with including being the platoon leader for the leadership support platoon. “Thank you, Michelle”.

“Java Joe” Bookataub developed all Platoon Leaders, Assistant Platoon Leaders and Tail Gunners for this years run. He told me that sometimes it was like herding cats. All the Platoon participant’s succeeded in becoming more proficient daily at pack riding. Whether you were in Platoon leadership or a rider or an FNG, it became apparent that you were becoming a team as we got closer to Springfield.

Well Done to all!!!

Collectively, I hope the leadership teams made 2026 memorable and reinforced the true purpose and focus of just what in life is worth fighting for. We hope that you always remember that life is truly about “The Mission”!

After Action Reports

Please remember that we are always trying to make next years’ experience better and that is why the After-Action Reports (AAR’S) are very important. I have received many already and I want to assure you that they are read by not only me but by the Board of Directors. I have already made a list of items from your submissions to be discussed at our next directors’ meeting. You can find AAR’S on the Midway page, second from the bottom on the scroll down menu. Please take this opportunity to tell me how we did this year. The Good, the bad and the ugly.

We cannot as a family make it better if we do not have an honest evaluation of our process and procedure.

To truly make a better product we collectively must analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate continuously. Please use the After Action Report (AAR) as your personal vehicle to assist the RFTW leadership accomplish this mission.

Red Star Foundation

It saddens me to hear that our continued armed conflicts are afflicting our warriors with same guilt as I suffered and is potentially causing us to lose them at a rate of 20 -22 a day. We have developed a partnership with the Red Star foundation whose primary purpose is to never allow this nation to forget the cost of armed conflict and those who chose to offer that sacrifice.
If our combined efforts can save even a few, it was well worth the time, effort and money.

“Say Their Name”      “Tell Their Story”         “ Never Forget”

It was my honor to lead the Midway route across this great country this year. I look forward to seeing you all next year as your route Mentor.

“IS IT MAY YET”

Ed “Wind Dog” Brundage
Midway Route Coordinator 2025, 2026
Advanced Team Lead 2023 – 2024
Fuel Team Lead, Assist Team lead, Team Member 2015 – 2022
Central Route 2009 – 2013
FNG 2008

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May 2026 Central Route Coordinator Newsletter

Well, it is finally May and some of you may be already on the road to Ontario, while others are still getting ready.  Whatever the case may be, it is RUN FOR THE WALL time!

In less than 2 weeks we will be kickstands up, “Riding for Those That Can’t,” heading east on our annual pilgrimage to our Nation’s Capital. The Central Route Team is ready and for 10 days we will be on the road together, where we will meet old friends, make new friends, have some awesome experiences, and tell some tall tales.

As always, please remember our Mission Statement:

 

Mission Statement

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.

The final editions of the Schedule of Events for Ontario and Washington, D.C as well as the official 2026 Central Route Itinerary have been uploaded to the Central Hub. This is your 10-day schedule for May.  Read and understand it. A lot of time and hard work went into putting the events together.  Put it on your phone or print a hard copy for yourself.

Don’t forget about the these very important events:

Sunday, May 10th   Mother’s Day.

Monday May 11th    Mandatory FNGs meeting starting at 2 pm in Lot D

Tuesday May 12th   Mandatory ALL HANDS MEETING  starting at 2pm in the Citrus Room at the Holiday Inn

Wednesday, May 13   Be at Lot D, packed up, fueled up, checked out of your hotel, and ready to go. Reville starts at 5:55 am

Ontario Registration and Check In

Check in for riders start at 0900 Monday, May 11th at the Elks Lodge.  For those not starting in Ontario, the registration team will be available approximately 30 minutes before the pack arrives at the end of the day until 30 minutes or so after their arrival. I highly recommend you check in at registration in the evening. You can check in at registration in the morning, but you could be pressed for time trying to find your platoon, eat breakfast, get through all the introductions, and attend the mandatory morning meeting.

Remember, you will need to provide proof of a valid and current driver’s license, registration and insurance at check-in.

Emergency Contact Forms.  Although one is required, I highly suggest you have two. One on your person and the other somewhere in your bike.

If something happens to you and it requires you to be transported, the form that is on you will go with you to the hospital. The hospital staff will make their notifications but probably doesn’t know the status of your personal items or your bike.  With another form on the bike, RFTW representatives as well as Law Enforcement will know who to contact and what to do with your bike and personal items just in case you are incapacitated and are transported before a RFTW representative can arrive at the scene.

There will be alot of equipment to move around in Ontario. If you happen to arrive early and see people in RFTW hats carrying boxes, please ask if you can help. A tremendous amount of work has been going on behind the scenes since last July getting to where we are today. One aspect of the work is our equipment inventory.  Our last man coordinator, Tommy “Two Chains” is the ultimate pack rat since he inventoried and stored all the equipment you see in the photos below.

At least 8 boxes of plaques are also being delivered to his house.  Tommy cleans inventories and stores all this near his house, periodically checks on it and finally delivers it to Ontario in May. After the Run he brings it back to the LA area and starts the cycle all over again.

During the Run, there will be daily reports, known as SitReps written and posted by “Mama G” on social medial and the RFTW website.

To read the daily SitRep, and other important information about the Run, visit the Central Route Hub for more information. https://rftw.us/central-route-hub/

Volunteers

Staging is in desperate needs of volunteers as well as a Friends of Bill Coordinator! The work hours, pay and benefits package are probably one of the best on the Run.

One of our chase vehicles had to drop out due to mechanical issues. I know it’s late in the game but if someone has a truck and trailer able to haul a couple of motorcycles, please contact Tommy Two Chains at trcranford3@msn.com

If you are interested in volunteering to help on the Run, please let me know.

Donations

Part of what keeps this Run going is the generous Donations we receive from the Public and Run for the Wall family. RFTW is a 501(c)3 so if you know of anyone that wishes to donate, please direct them to our donation page. Donate – Run For The Wall®

During the Run, we have fundraising events to help our beneficiaries along the Run.  One of these events is our daily raffle where we have several awesome donated items to raffle off.

Bring cash for the Platoon Challenges, Service Bucket Challenges, 50/50 raffle and auction items. The money collected will all go to our charities along the way.

If the stuff you won in the auction doesn’t fit on your bike, don’t worry we can get it to D.C for you.

Fuel

If you did not sign up for the prepaid fuel option before May 1st (applies only to 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles), you will need to purchase a fuel sticker at registration for $65 cash. No cash is accepted at the gas pumps.  If you don’t have exact change, no change will be given at registration, and we thank you for your donation.  The money collected will cover your RFTW fuel stops from Ontario, CA to Washington, DC.  Thanks to our many donors across the country, whose generosity allows us to keep our fuel costs down. Without them our prepaid fuel costs would be much, much higher.

The Pre-Paid fuel costs also help defray the cost of fuel for our support vehicles, like the Chase Truck Team drivers, Last Man Vehicle, and Hydration Vehicle.

Day Rider rate for fuel will be $15 per day payable at registration.  Subject to change.

Purchase of the Fuel Sticker is mandatory.

You will purchase a fuel sticker, using CASH, at check-in when you pick up your registration materials in Ontario, or any of our overnight stops where you register and check-in.   You will then receive the sticker to put on your bike.

All Riders please remember to fill up your motorcycles each evening on your own, at your own cost, before arriving at staging in the morning (Spot checks will be happening).  If you do not have a full tank in the morning, you will be sent away to fuel, possibly missing breakfast and the mandatory morning rider meeting.

When we leave Ontario, CA we have our first gas stop Barstow, CA The next gas stop is Ludlow, CA  where at last report, the price of fuel is over $8.00 a gallon.  The gas stop after that is in Arizona next to Needles, CA,  where fuel is much cheaper than Ludlow.

The distance between Barstow and Needles, CA is 150 miles. Because of the high price of fuel in California, if you are able to make it from Barstow to Needles without fueling in Ludlow, it would be much appreciated in order to save our limited funds.

Again, if you feel the need to top off your tank in Ludlow, please do so. But if you can safely make it to Needles, please consider not topping off in Ludlow.

 

Kansas Turnpike

IMPORTANT: All riders and support vehicles will need to verify their license plate at the  time of check-in.  Otherwise, you may receive a toll bill from the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

If you have a DriveKS or KTAG account, you will need to deactivate the tag of the vehicle you will be using for RFTW before May 18, or you may get a toll charge.

If you tap out and do not catch up with the pack or deviate off of the turnpike and return, you may receive a toll bill in the mail.

 Morning Meetings

There have been some questions from those that do not wish to ride in the pack but want to participate in the RFTW activities.

If you have registered for the Run but choose not to ride with your assigned platoon, you must stay at least ¼ of a mile behind the last man vehicle. If you decide to ride ahead of the pack, you must do so at least 2 miles ahead of the Road Guard Captain and/or the police escort (if they are in front). By riding outside of the pack, you will not have the support of the chase vehicles, in case you have a mechanical issue or medical emergency.

AGAIN, regardless of where you ride, if you have REGISTERED for the RFTW and wish to partake in the RFTW EVENTS for that day, you must attend the Morning meetings!

There will be a mandatory rider meeting every morning.  This meeting is to inform the riders of any changes to schedule and any other issues that may have come up the previous day.

Morning meetings are mandatory.

 

Springfield, VA and Washington, D.C.

Friday May 22 Springfield Arrival

We arrive in Springfield, VA with the Southern Route and the Midway Route will arrive approximately 1 hour later. It is tradition and custom to greet the arriving riders,  so make yourself available to line alongside the road leading to the parking garage to greet the Midway Riders.

You will be allowed to check into your hotel after the closing ceremony at 5pm

There will be a shuttle from the host hotel in Springfield to the American Legion.

Saturday, May 23

A group Picture of all the cross-country routes will be in front of the Lincoln Memorial at 9 am.

After that we walk to the Vietnam Memorial to pay our respects and lay our RFTW Plaque at the apex.  We will then be “MC.” (Mission Complete)

Parking in D.C.  

Unfortunately, no reserved parking is available this year.  I would recommend you take some form public transportation (Uber, Metro, etc.) to the Lincoln Memorial/Vietnam Wall where our group photo takes place and where we honor our fallen at the wall. If you decide to ride to the Lincoln Memorial/Vietnam Veterans Memorial, you must park in a legal parking area. Do not park on the grass, in no parking zones, on the sidewalk, etc. If you park there, you may be subject to your bike being ticketed or impounded.  Also, the LEO may notice your RFTW stickers, banners, etc. and make a report of that, possibly jeopardizing future RFTW events in the area.  It is the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country, and there will be other Veterans and tourist groups present during the Memorial Day weekend in D.C. so it will be a busy, crowded weekend and parking will be limited.

Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown

As in the past, RFTW has been granted access for 75 motorcycles to enter the Arlington National Cemetery and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Central has been allocated 28 motorcycles with 56 seats available to enter these  hallowed grounds. The priority for those to represent the Central Route will be FNG’s. If you are interested let your Platoon Leader or FNG Coordinator know. Depending on the numbers received we may have to have a lottery system to determine who will go.

If you are selected for riding into Arlington National Cemetery, remember that anyone over the age of 18 entering the cemetery on a motorcycle —to include both rider and passenger—must present a REAL ID-compliant identification at the security check point.

Visitors who arrive by vehicle and park in the Welcome Center parking garage, walk, take the Metro or use a ride share service to ANC will not be required to present a REAL ID, as they will be required to go through standard physical security screening within the Welcome Center.

REAL ID-compliant is a state-issued REAL-ID or these other forms of acceptable identification:

DoD Common Access Card

DoD Uniformed Services ID Cards (military retiree or dependent ID)

Local DoD Access Cards and Passes (i.e. Defense Biometric Identification System Card)

U.S. or Foreign Passport or Passport Cards

Transportation Worker Identification Cards

Veteran’s Health Identification Cards

Federal Personal Identify Verification Cards

Non-Federal PIV-Interoperable Cards

State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Card (EID)

An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).

No Weapons of any kinds including knives!

Do not bring your GMRS radio!

 

Rolling to Remember

Rolling to Remember previously known as Rolling Thunder.  For those not participating in Sandbox, Rolling is an event you may wish to participate in. This is not an RFTW-sanctioned event and participation is entirely voluntary.  Please read April 2026 President’s Message for more information about this and the wreath laying at ANC.

 

AAR’s

After Action Reports (AAR). You will be hearing more about this in the future, but it is your opportunity as a participant in RFTW to provide feedback about your experience on the Run, both good and bad. All AAR’s are taken seriously and read by the Board and Route leadership. AAR’s in the past have resulted in changes in operating procedures. So your feedback matters.

 

REMEMBER TO HYDRATE!

CHECK YOUR GEAR!

PLAN FOR RIDING IN COLD, WET OR HOT WEATHER!

GET YOUR SERVICE DONE!

It’s time to kick the tires and light the fires for RFTW XXXVI!

How far are we going?

See you all in Ontario!

Jim “Who?” McDonough
XXXVI Central Route Coordinator