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Central Route Coordinator News – September 6, 2017

I can report to you that the planning for the Central Route portion of our May 2018 Run from California to Washington DC is well underway.  Nearly all the Central Route leadership has agreed to return for 2018 and that contact list is now posted on www.rftw.us.  Of course, there are small changes made from week to week. 

The State Coordinators have all agreed to take on their roles again for 2018, except for West Virginia.  Roger Keller and Ronnie Stone have stepped up to assume the WV State Coordinator roles.  State Coordinators are being asked to review the itinerary for changes, such as stops, hotels, campgrounds, and road construction.  The SCs have begun work to make 2018 successful and meaningful.

Platoon leadership is mostly in place, making up a total of twelve platoons.  I have decided to add another motorcycle platoon, making a total of nine, for two wheelers.  Platoons #1 thru #7 are side by side, platoons #8 and #9 are staggered.  Platoon #10 is made up of trikes.  Platoon #11 is trikes with trailers, and Platoon #12 is bikes with trailers.  When online registration opens, and that should be soon, we encourage everyone to register early.  These registration numbers will help us decide if we need to add more platoons.

We have had a lot of help from the Southern Route in getting the Outreach Program established on the Central Route.  Eamon Tansey has done a fantastic job in getting this organized continues to do so.  He has asked Nick Nicholas to be the Lead Coordinator.  I am excited to see this program in action.

The annual Angel Fire Reunion took place this past Labor Day weekend.  I am happy to say that all three routes were represented.  I was especially thrilled that Chad O’Dell, the 2018 Southern Route Coordinator, was in attendance.  We laid 414 bricks along the sidewalks honoring veterans as a service project.  There was a banquet on Saturday evening at which Gunny Gregory gave a talk.  The RFTW Board of Directors was introduced and entertained questions.

My Wall is Your Wall,

Harlan “Whitebirch” Olson  


*Photo Courtesy of The Book “Run for the Wall – A Journey to the Vietnam Memorial”©

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