CR – May 16, 2025 – Day 3 To DC – Gallup, NM to Eagle Nest, NM

May 16, 2025 – Day 3 To DC – Gallup, NM to Eagle Nest, NM

Here is the bio for the day of one of our Vietnam Vet.

Weather today was a bit chilly, mid 30s, but the sunrise was beautiful. 

First thing I saw as I walked up the the morning was this trailer, Beautiful:

Then I saw where it was.  On the trailer of one of the chase vehicles.  RFTW normally has 2-3 trucks pulling trailers in case of any breakdowns. They will get them to the dealer as close as they can to get them back on the road to finish  the mission.  Most of the dealers are very familiar with RFTW and get us back on the road as quickly as possible.

This is “Baby Bear” and he has a brick that will be carried cross country by a different FNG everyday. I did not get the full story but when I do I will update you.  I do know that there is a tree called the “Survival Tree”.  It has been struck by lightning 2 times and is still going strong.  The brick will be returned and placed at the base of the tree.

Thanks for carrying this.

Kirk made a great comment that really stuck:

“Out here make friends, because they cannot”.

After the morning meeting, each platoon has a meeting.  Since a lot of people cannot make the full trip, we have people drop and start throughout the 10 day.  So the platoon leader has a list of items to go over every days.  This reconfirms to the current one and gets newcomers up to speed.  The chaplains are assigned a few platoons so in the morning they go to the platoon for prayer to keep the riders safe: rubber side down and the shiny side up.  Yesterday “Bulldog” made a comment.  He may be down because he could not get above 2nd gear.  His congregation back home heard about this and many prayed for a fast fix so he can get back on the road.  The next morning the person from his church said go try your bike.  Amazingly it was good to go. Coincidence?  I think not.

Even though I am the SitRep Writer, I am still in a platoon.  I am in platoon 1 where my brother, Ron, is the leader.  (My husband is a road guard so I am not allowed to ride with him.)  One thing is to go thru hand signals.  Eric and Susan just joined us today so Ron asked Eric to show the hand signals.  Poor guy!.  He made a mistake and even his wife was laughing.  All in fun

Another way RFTW raises money for Rainelle is with a platoon challenge.  So there is a hat passed around each morning.  But be careful in Ron’s platoon.  You make a mistake it costs you $5.

OK let’s hit the road.  Gallup gave us a great send of.  

Not sure I ever remember a hot air balloon carrying the American flag.

Pretty cool.

 

We are still in New Mexico and we will have an escort all the way thru the state. 

 

Since we are now in position 5, we get a pretty good picture of the pack.

 

 

 

Organizing this and other things are done by the state coordinators of every state.  They set up gas stops, get hotels to help with giving RFTW good rates, and much more. 

 

Here are a few of the overpasses.  It is Friday, I guess they took off work.  Nice!!!  Thanks

 

We see a lot of this. People on the side of the road.  Set up flags and waving.  

We go past in probably 5 minutes or less and yet they come out.  What great support.

 

 

First stop is a gas stop, Route 66 Casino.  This is a gas stop…. look at the people.

 

 

 

Here is a great pic of the staging team. Each staging area needs to be scoped out before the run.  Is it big enough, how do we set up the platoon. Gives me a headache just thinking about it.

 

The escort is made up of several organizations: local, city state highway patrol.  

My understanding is that there is a waiting list for this detail.

Thanks to all the team!!!

 

One more team to mention is the hydration team.  

They got skids of items donated: water, Gatorade, snacks. 

They set up in most parking lots to keep us hydrated.

 

Having a little fun, making sure our hair was not sticking out from our hats before our pic.  

Looks pretty good to me.  What do you think?

 

One of the best parts of the escort was getting through Albuquerque with no other cars.  SWEET!!!

 

Heading to lunch, there is still snow in the mountains.

 

Getting gas before lunch.

Hey Rich Boy,  you are sitting down on the job!!

 

 

Heading into Santa Claran casino for lunch.  WOW there are a lot of casinos in NM.

 

 

 

 

 

Our escorts.  THANKS guys.

 

 

Now the best part of  the day. Angel Fire Vietnam Memorial and the ride to get there.

Enjoy the ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great reception!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

First thing you see is a Huey helicopter.  

It was used in Vietnam and placed here after it was decommissioned.

Google: 

Angel Fire Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Victor David was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps (B CO, 1st BN, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Div) and was killed in Viet Nam in a battle/ ambush near Con Thien. Fifteen other soldiers lost their lives in this battle.

Following the death of their son, U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Victor David Westphall III, Jeanne and Dr. Victor Westphall began construction of the Vietnam Veterans Peace and Brotherhood Chapel to honor the memory of their son and the sixteen men that died with him near Con Thien, South Vietnam on May 22, 1968.

 

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Bricks are laid every year on Labor Day for any veteran.  

 

Scooter, one of our road guards, flew in this Huey and his name is on the inside.  

He was also able to be in it when it was decommissioned. 

 

 

Every Labor Day the RFTW family comes to lay bricks of family/friends that have served.

Today we will be laying 2 bricks that are very special to the Olson family.

Arthur Wayne Glover

Donald Richard Taylor

 

From Kirk newsletter:

On Friday, May 16, 2025 when we arrive at the Angel Fire Vietnam Memorial this year in New Mexico, on Day 3, we will lay two memorial bricks, just like we do every year over Labor Day Weekend when RFTW riders lay a few hundred bricks.  We will honor and remember Arthur Wayne Glover, from Harrisburg, PA and Donald Richard Taylor from Morristown, TN.  These men were also in the Army Security Agency in Saigon, and they were both killed on the same day during the same incident in 1964.  They were ages 24 and 21 when they were killed, and their names are on Panel 1E, Line 43 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. 

 

Harland told this: In Vietnam, Harlan and the 2 gentlemen above went to watch a baseball game. Harlan decided he needed to leave and go write Janelle a letter.  She had written to him so much, he needed to reply.  (Remember there were no cell phones or internet)

After he left there was an explosive device that went off under the seats where they were watching the game.  Arthur and Donald were both killed. 

 

The bricks were escorted by 6 men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim then played Amazing Grace and Taps on her bagpipes.  

You could  not even hear a bird chirping.

 

Angel Fire also has an exact replica of the Vietnam Wall that is in DC.

 

 

Judy (tail gunner of platoon 1) has a brother on the wall. He was one of the last names added.

The incident was over Laos a week after the treaty was signed.  

There is still a discrepancy as to his status.  His remains have not been recovered.

He is listed on the wall on the last panel.

 

Joseph A Matejov

 

 

 

If you look at the dates on this brick, there is no end date. 

Since Sgt. Matejob is MIA, it will remain like this.

 

 

From Williams AZ, you remember John McCoy. We found his name too.

 

 

There are other families on the Run that have family members on the wall.