Category: Southern Route SitReps

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Central Route Chronicles: Spooky Edition

Hello Fall!

The leaves are beginning to change, and the cool mornings are starting to appear here in the great state of West Virginia. In a couple of weeks, many of us will be passing out candy. Back in the day, I remember a house near me would pass out fresh grilled hot dogs made to order! And then before you know it, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I hope that everyone is enjoying getting out and enjoying this wonderful time of the year.

If you are curious about me, and my history with RFTW, I was recently interviewed on the Official RFTW Podcast. Boot’s, Hitch, and I go way back, and it was a great interview. The surprising thing is that It’s only an hour long (it could have went on for much longer)! Hop on over to the Podcast and give it a listen. There are some great past interviews with a variety of all things Run For the Wall. Check out Run For The Wall® Podcast Season 3 Episode 3 – Horton Heard A Who (Central Route Coordinator)

It is hard to believe that we are just 211 days away from the start of RFTW XXXVII! Have you registered yet? If so, THANK YOU and Welcome Home! If you have not registered, I encourage you to do so by clicking HERE! These numbers help our Route Leadership and State Coordinators in their planning process.

As mentioned in the President’s last newsletter, he alongside the Vice President will be hosting a Quarterly Town Hall Event on Wednesday, October 21st at 7:00 CST via Zoom. Stay tuned to the President’s Newsletter for the Web Link, which will be shared soon. This is open to all riders. For the FNG’s and even veteran RFTW riders, this Town Hall will have a tremendous amount of information shared about our organization.

In closing, I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your day to read this newsletter.  Some of us still have full-time jobs, and some of you are lucky enough to be at the stage in life where your working days are over.  We all make different decisions on how to spend our time.  One thing is for certain.  When the kick stands go up on May 19th, 2027, I promise you will be embarking on a journey that you will never forget.

We ride for those who can’t.

Horton - spooky

Todd “Horton” Taylor
Central Route Coordinator

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Mid Month Roundup – October 2026

Magic of the Ride

I had just turned off my ride at work and was taking my helmet off when a coworker made small talk on how cool it must have been riding in this morning. It was only in the mid 50s and immediately I replied back that I’ve ridden through worse. The look I got staring back at me was priceless. 

“Do you ride often?” he asked. “Enough to ride from coast to coast each year.” I replied knowing a much deeper conversation was about to begin as his curiosity was visibly growing. 

“So what brings you back to ride from coast to coast? Doesn’t that get…”

“Long?” I finished his question as he nodded in response. “It does, but it’s the ‘magic of the ride’ that keeps me returning each year.”

“Magic?” he replied with a sound of concern in his voice and the look of wanting to walk away quickly.  

“Come on in, sit down and let me spin you a tale. Then you tell me.”

Family Connections

My name is Pat Telkamp from Virginia where I work for a communications company, pulling fiber and cables to connect families and businesses across the nation and world. My FNG year for Run for the Wall was in 2023 where I rode the Midway Route, one of three routes from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. with Midway running on I-40 for the majority of the way. I enjoyed the route so much that I continued to stick with the same route the following three years, 2024, 2025, and 2026; each year better than the one before. My story begins in 2024.

Several months prior to the run, I was discussing the ride with some co-workers. They had the usual questions and concerns like ‘why would you ride across the country on a motorcycle’ and ‘what makes a ride like that so special’. Each question gave me a better opportunity to explain that we ride for those who cannot, that we are the ambassadors for those who ensured our freedom to do so and could not be with us. We also ride to raise the awareness of those still missing in all conflicts, raising awareness that our nation needs to be accountable for all those who they send to fight for our freedoms, and to not rest until they are all home once again.

Afterwards, Jeff Deuso, a colleague of mine came up to me, “I have had an uncle that died in the war, Vietnam conflict. Not much is known; the circumstances, anyway.” he said as he looked at me, but also away at the same time.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Jeff.” I replied somberly. “Have you ever been to the wall?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t.” he replied, almost in a whisper. 

“If you would like, I can take your Uncle’s name and bio to the wall, ride for him and  his memory.” I offered. “There I can also get a rubbing of his name and bring it back to you and your dad.” I continued. 

Jeff’s eyes began to well up with tears. “You would do that?”

“Absolutely. That’s what we do. That’s why we ride.” I replied offering a soft smile and a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“That would mean a lot, to me and my family, especially my dad.” Jeff tried to get out without choking up. 

“Don’t worry brother, I’ll bring him home.”

May finally came around and I was again riding the Midway Route, with Jeff’s uncle in the forefront of my mind, Master Chief Petty Officer Carrol J. Deuso riding along with me.

As we finished our ride in Washington D.C. and completed our mission at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, I completed my mission by visiting Master Chief Petty Officer Carroll J. Deuso on Panel W 6 Line 122 as well as getting a rubbing of his name for Jeff and his family back home. One thing I noticed this year and was a bit different from years past, it was raining more in an unusual way. It wasn’t a gentle mist or a solid downpour of torrential rain, but somewhere in the middle as a steady rhythmic shower that covered the entire memorial. One of our own riders was on the grassy knoll behind us playing the bagpipes, filling the air with a sweet serenade of music as people filtered on by the wall, passing me and other riders from behind, sheltered under their umbrellas and on a steady continuous march down one side and up the other. You could tell the riders from the tourists; riders had their baseball caps pulled and against their chests, heads bowed, maybe even a hand against the wall, dripping from the steady beat of the rain as they stood there; obedient and reverent, offering their thanks, prayers, and guilt. The others were a line of umbrellas against the chain and in constant motion, passing and leaving the others to their confessions and prayers. 

My ride home was short but wet as it continued to rain for the next three days. As promised, I delivered the rubbings to Jeff and his family, bringing Carroll Deuso home. A solemn moment, but meaningful nonetheless. As I handed Jeff’s dad the rubbing along with a pin and challenge coin from the run, he broke down in tears remembering his brother. Even I was tearing up again with his heartfelt feelings as he placed all of the mementos into a shadow box he had made for his brother’s memories and accomplishments. 

As we say during the run, ‘This is why we ride’. However, the run of 2026 and the events that followed will be one that I will never forget.

Half way through the ride I was talking with Ben Noyce, aka Stitch, who was our SITREP writer, photographer and videographer this year who was having issues with his Goldwing as he lost his preloads on both front and back suspensions. The poor guy was running up and down the road past the pack in order to get photos and video, but looked as if he was galloping rather than smooth riding as he bounced on past; all springs and no shocks. When I asked him about it, he simply shrugged it off as if it was no big deal and ‘someone had to do it’. He even referred to it being similar to his FNG year when he and his daughter broke down on their first day on his dad’s old Victory and the adventure they had getting it back on the road, even catching up to the pack just to finish the run. 

They were in my platoon in 2024, platoon 4 and I had totally forgotten about that until he mentioned it. That poor bike was so loaded down with camping gear and both of them; they were there half the day when they first joined, and then gone. Some even said they were broken down and left behind at one of our stops. Two days later they were back in formation with what seemed like a new look on life, even a determination like I’ve never seen. Stitch said he  wrote a book on it afterwards and that it was available on Amazon. A few quick clicks and sure enough, there it was, Ohana, A Tale of a Ride. A few more clicks and it was on its way home awaiting my return after the run.

By the time I returned home, Stitch’s book had arrived in the mail; honestly I’d almost forgotten about it. As I was getting back into the pattern of my normal routine, I began to read his book, and it was exactly as he described it, a very detailed and emotional recount of the 2024 run. The descriptions were so vivid and real, it brought me back to my FNG year and I began to relive the emotions and feelings that I had; I couldn’t put it down. But something was different too, it wasn’t only about the run, but their family members that they researched and were riding for on the Wall as well. Strangely enough, it wasn’t only about them but the soldiers they were with. 

Soon I was at the point where they had disappeared from the pack, and for good reason. Their adventure of repairs on the sidewalk as no local service shop would take them in. And then over the hills from Knoxville, TN to Ashville, NC where they joined up with us the following morning. But this is where the ‘magic of the ride’ took its turn. 

Stitch finished almost every chapter with a story of his relatives on the wall, something that really captures you and draws you in with the details and history, and this chapter was no different. Here was a first hand account of William Stewart heading home on emergency leave to the funeral of his dad who had just passed away. Each passing moment was like watching a movie or even reliving a memory until I was stopped cold in mid-sentence. A passenger described on the plane was Master Chief Deuso… “This can’t be.” I whispered to myself. I slowly began reading on as a complete manifest is listed at the end of each account. There he was, BTCM Carroll J. Deuso, Richford, VT, age 36, Status: MIA (Body not recovered). My blood ran cold, I was frozen in place as if ice had instantly gripped my body from head to toe. I could feel panic as I caught my breath short of fully exhaling. 

I called Jeff and asked him what his uncle’s name was, just to confirm if it was truly him. 

“Carroll J…” Jeff started.

“Dueso.” I finished his sentence immediately. 

I asked him to sit down as there was no easy way to speak of what I just discovered. I explained to him the book that I was currently reading and then described the events within the chapter leading up to the death of the six in a plane crash the day his uncle passed. I could feel the tears in his voice over the phone as he began to look up the book. Finding it almost immediately, he purchased it without thinking twice to give it to his dad on Father’s Day. 

A few weeks later I got a call from Jeff saying he just received the book and that he just read the chapter. He even had his dad read it and they both were completely astonished, all they knew was that he had died in a plane crash, but never was told any circumstances around the incident or even what he did in the Navy. “This gave us an understanding of what generally happened, even closure all these years later.” Jeff said. “Thank you.”

Everyone has their own story, some may have multiple. They are what keeps our family together, and brings so many of us back each year. Let us help you create your story and your own bit of magic. Come ride with us. 

If you have a story and would like to share, we would love to hear it. Comment or email: bnoyce1213@gmail.com


Until next month,

Ride Safe

Keep the rubber side down

Shiny side up.

 

 

 

 

Stitch

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Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – October 2026

231 Days to KSU!

Halloween and the Holidays are just around the corner. Fall is here with its temperate weather.  Friends and families are beginning to think about the up coming holidays and before we know it 2027 will be upon us. My how time flies….

POW MIA Recognition Day was celebrated on Friday September 18, 2026.

While National POW/MIA Recognition Day is not a public holiday, the United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), as well as their families. Many Americans across the United States pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war (POW), as well as those who are missing in action (MIA), and their families. All military installations fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag, which symbolizes the nation’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned while serving in conflicts and those who remain missing.

POW/MIA Recovery Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) continues its dedicated efforts to recover and identify remains from all conflicts.  Last year, 231 missing service members were accounted for, including eight from the Vietnam War, with the remainder from World War II and the Korean War. Most of the recovery sites are in Europe and Southeast Asia. There are currently 1,565 missing U.S. personnel from the Vietnam War.  Our four-part Mission begins with the call for accounting – those families are our families, and they deserve our support.

This is part of our core mission statement.

“Never Forget”

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.

Your Route Coordinator and his leadership Teams are deeply involved in the planning of Midway Route 2027. Midway State Coordinators have been very busy working on our 2027 Itinerary. There are a few proposed changes to some of the itineraries and I think 2027 will once again be very special as we meet up with old friends and make new ones on a daily basis as we travel from LA to DC.

Registration

Registration opened on Sept. 11th, 2026. Midway is doing well on getting riders registered. However, if you have not registered yet, please consider doing it as soon as possible. We need semi-accurate numbers to provide them to our fuel stops so they know how much 91 octane they will need to have available for us. Additionally, our lunch and dinner locations need to have a best guess so they can provide the appropriate portions and hotels and camping locations need to know how many rooms or camping sites will be required. I know there are a lot of moving parts but it is necessary to get this family across the country as safely and efficiently as possible.  You can register on our website just as you have in the past.  We encourage you to register early and take advantage of the reduced, “early bird” rate.  Registration rates are:

Coast to Coast Routes (Midway)

  1. $100 early bird
  2. $120 regular reg (starting Feb 1)
  3. Day riders (up to 3 days on the road riding): $100

Looking for Volunteers

Midway route is looking for a few good men or women. I need some dedicated riders to assist me with Registration, Promotions, Staging, Fuel Team and an Honor Guard Coordinator. If you would be willing to assist the Midway riders in any of these positions, please go to the Midway website and fill out a volunteer sign up form. Here’s the link to the signup page. Midway Route Volunteer Signup You will gain a sense of fulfillment that only comes with sacrifice and service to your family.

Riding Interval

Our riding interval has now been officially documented by the Board of Directors. For years, we’ve discussed our expected interval as “up to two seconds,” “one to two seconds,” etc., but now, through our SOPs, the Board has specified that our interval should be two seconds. Even when riding in a staggered formation, you will be expected to maintain a two-second interval from the bike in front of you. Additionally, the SOPs include a maximum highway pack speed. For well over two years, the SOPs have stated that the pack will not exceed the posted speed limit or 70 mph, whichever is less. I will ensure that you get adequate time for all riders to join the pack when entering the roadways, and that this maximum speed is not exceeded.

Please assist me in ensuring this is an enjoyable ride for all.

GMRS Radios

GMRS radios are now the standard for communication among your leaders. However, remember that while you all can listen in on the directions on GMRS, silence is golden. Unnecessary communications are disruptive to departure coordination and clog the channel, preventing critical messages from getting through. When someone is using the channel unnecessarily, another person might be trying to communicate a safety issue. With GMRS’s increased transmission capability, there’s no need to relay any instructions. Hand signals remain the primary way to communicate within the platoons, ensuring all riders receive critical info and instructions. Bottom line: Stay off the radio!!

If you have purchased a GMRS radio and are unsure about how to set it up, there are tutorials on the RFTW forum under “GMRS radio”. It will give you the opportunity to listen to the leadership of Midway making route decisions as we cross this great country.

Politics

As we move into our countries mid-term election season please remember that the Midway route and RFTW are non-political, and as such, political discussions are not allowed and will not be tolerated. These discussions can easily turn into arguments that hinder the Mission and create a hostile environment not conducive to Midway’s healing efforts. Please keep your political opinions to yourself while we are on the Mission. My sainted mother always told me there were three things that are never brought up in polite conversation. Sex, Religion and Politics because they are all personal/private and no one else’s business. We are focused on the Mission, not politics.

RFTW Podcast

The RFTW Podcast with Boots and Hitch continues to highlight what makes RFTW a unique organization. I encourage you to take a listen. Each episode explores a distinct aspect of RFTW, featuring interviews with various individuals who have contributed to the development of RFTW.  Check it out!!

It is not the worst thing to die in war; it is not the worst thing to be missing in war. The worst thing is to be forgotten in War.

‘No one left behind’ is more than just a standard we strive to meet. It is a way of life. It is part of our Mission. If you or someone you know finds themselves struggling with mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1, or texting 838255 to speak or chat with a qualified responder.

RFTW Monthly Gatherings

Phoenix area riders will meet on Oct 10 at What the Hell Grill located at 7303 E Main St. in Mesa at 11:00. All routes are invited. If you have any other meet ups planned in your area let me know and I will get the word out.

Let us dedicate ourselves and our efforts and remember to keep our focus on the Mission. It is why we ride!

Say Their Names – Tell Their Stories – Never Forget.

Is it May yet?

Stinger

Randy “Stinger” Sheets
Midway Route Coordinator 2027

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Central Route Chronicles: September 2026 Edition

Stephen and Todd AF 2027

My son Stephen and I had an amazing time this past weekend in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico!  Our annual brick laying project at the Angel Fire Vietnam Veterans Memorial was accomplished with over 100 volunteers from ALL ROUTES.  Every brick is inscribed with a name that was read before it was escorted by volunteers or family members.  Your 2027 Assistant Route Coordinator, Ted “Boots” Kapner, 2011 Route Coordinator, Harry “Attitude” Steelman, and I were honored to announce each name on the brick before it was escorted to its final resting place along the paths of the Memorial.

None of this would have been possible without the countless hours of prep work.  A special thanks to Central Route Road Guard Kenny “Scooter” Keelin, Registration Team Lead Kathryn “Dark Cloud” Ewing, NM State Coordinator Patti “Yogi” Finley for their hard work and dedication to this project.

As the seasons begin to change, we are just one day away from the opening of registration for the 2026 Run For the Wall.  On September 11th, 2026 at 0846 the online registration page will become live.  I encourage everyone to register early as this gives our State Coordinators valuable information as they begin to coordinate with the communities that host us in May.

We are still looking for volunteers for all teams.  As you are aware it takes a small army to move 300 plus motorcycles across this great country!  If you are not a FNG, and are willing to help, please fill out a Volunteer Application found here. Once submitted, your application will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate team lead, and they will get in contact with you.

In closing, I would like to once again express my heartfelt thanks for allowing me to be your Route Coordinator this coming year.  Meetings are beginning to be scheduled, and the anticipation is beginning to rise.  Never forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, those who are still unaccounted for, and those who are currently serving.

Till next month…

Horton - RFTW Central Route Coordinator

Todd “Horton” Taylor
Central Route Coordinator

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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