And then ”life” resumed. There were church obligations, client work, photos to edit, family visits, and just general “stuff” that makes life worthwhile. And I never got around to writing that “wrap up.”
WE all know our Mission Statement, and it condenses to “We ride for those that can’t.” To this end, RFTW has created FOUR Routes: three of which are primarily for our Vietnam Veterans and Families, and the newest route, The SandBox, which is aimed to wards our newest Veterans. Our goal with each of these Routes is to provide emotional healing for the Veterans, Family Members, Patriots, and Participants of Run For The Wall, along with all of the thousands of public that we encounter each and every day.
And the Midway Route did this so well in 2022!
This was not an easy year for the Midway Route. With our two-year hiatus, we lost several key and crucial contacts with our supporters. We had to reestablish these connections “on the fly.” Our State and Local coordinators did not let us down! They stood up, did the extra last-minute work, and made our presence in the communities something that BOTH sides could be proud of.
Our fund-raising committees did an absolutely AMAZING job of supporting us. Each Rider’s out-of-pocket expense during the Run was so minimal as to almost be negligible. I don’t know how they did it, but it was REALLY appreciated. Especially when you consider what happened to prices (for everything!) right before we started riding. Not only were most costs covered for the Riders, but we were still able to give out scholarships at two schools and help some of our local supporters cover THEIR costs. We had 50/50 raffles everyday with some pretty good payouts! We had so many raffle items donated that almost every Rider could have gone home with “something.” You guys did an awesome job!
Our Fuel Team and Advance Team are true unsung and seemingly “invisible” heroes! They are always out in front of the pack, and they are always working when we arrive. They eat fast and leave before everyone else. They are like “ghosts.” But because they do not ride WITH the pack, they often do not get to see and enjoy the “parade” we present when we arrive in a town. Instead, they are often the ones that are welcoming US, even while they are working. Only a couple of times during our Mission were they “with us” as we arrived. I just hope that they all know how much we truly appreciate all of their hard work!
There is a Finance Team that pays for the fuel, a Logistics Coordinator that makes sure all of our awards of Thanks for our supporters is on hand, an Honor Guard Coordinator, a Platoon Coordinator, a Merchandising Team, a Registration Team, and our Ambassadors. There are so MANY people that make this Mission possible that I just can’t name them all.
And then there were the Riders themselves. We had everything from our seasoned RFTW veteran Riders, to some brand new FNGs! And a couple of these Riders were TRULY brand new, having only ridden motorcycles for a few months prior to our Mission. (They did fantastic!) We had a couple of Gentlemen join us from Canada, where they have their own cross-country Mission called the “Rolling Barrage.” I saw so many smiling faces from our Riders each morning that I was SURE would fade before lunch time. Boy, was I wrong! Those smiles only got bigger as the day progressed. A few of our Riders weren’t too keen on being hugged so much on Day One. By Day 10, they were leading the
As you can tell, there were a LOT of things going on during our “ten day Mission.”
I have been a part of Run For The Wall for eight years now. I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of that time, and look forward to many more years of service, in whatever role that I am needed or wanted. I know that my association with RFTW has made me a better Man and Patriot. So I urge each and every one of YOU to volunteer, even if you don’t think you have the skills needed. We can find a place for you, just like they found a place for me. You won’t regret it, as the benefits and honor far out way the hard work.
And THAT is the million dollar question, because the answer lies within YOU. I know what we say we are going to do, and we did it. But that was for ten days. There are a lot more days during the year that are unaccounted for! It is my hope that each of you will carry on with the RFTW “spirit.”
Spend some time each day giving honor and respect to our Veterans. It isn’t hard. Start by saying “Thanks for your Service” to that old guy with the Veterans cap on. Do the same thing for our Police and Fire Fighters
Stand up whenever you hear our National Anthem, and say the Pledge of Allegiance! Place your hand over your heart or give a hand salute, whichever is appropriate for you. Do this in public! And take the time to explain WHY you are doing this to those that don’t understand, especially the young children. Do your part to educate our next generation of Patriots. You have heard me say it before and I repeat it now: I don’t like kids. But I WILL do what I can to help them learn about the sacrifices that our Veterans and their Families have made for our Freedom.
Take the time to replace a tattered American Flag that you may see flying somewhere. I know several people that keep a “spare” flag with them at all times. I have NEVER known one of them to be turned down when they explain that they would like to replace and retire a worn out flag.
Go visit a Veterans Home or hospital. Shake the hand of a hero, and listen to his stories. Learn from him, about the cost of Freedom.
Wear a POW-MIA bracelet. Show it and explain it to EVERYONE! Don’t even take it off to go through an airport x-ray machine. (Except under extreme protest!) Use that bracelet to make people think about our POWs.
These are all things that we do as part of Run For The Wall during our ten-day Mission.
THAT IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!
It has been my extreme honor to chronicle YOUR Midway Route experience. I hope that through my photos and poor attempt at writing that I have been able to convey the stories and events that you would want people to know. Your faith and trust in me to do this is something that I think about all the time. I have tried to keep that faith and trust, and to honor YOU the way that you have honored ME.
Cheers!
Jim “Hoofer” McCrain
Photographer and SITREP Author
Midway Route 2022