
Today is about Us!
Today was a very short riding day for the Midway Route. We are within an average days ride from Washington DC, but we will make it a two-day trek. With so few miles to do today, we will just take it easy and enjoy a few last memorial stops. But first we had to get started for the day.
As you may have ben able to tell, a LOT goes on during our morning Riders meeting. These meetings are Mandatory, as we discuss any changes to our itinerary, weather issues, safety concerns, and other general announcements. Today’s meeting started, as always with one of our Chaplains leading us in a prayer for safety and of thanksgiving for our safe and successful trip across the country. We said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem, as usual. The meeting and announcements were nothing new, until we got to the very end. The last activity of each meeting is to read a biography of one of our Nations Fallen Heroes.
So it was with tears in my eyes that we started down the highway towards are first fuel stop. Normally, there is a bit of chatter on the CB radio as the Road Guards deploy to intersections and on-ramps, and the Leadership communicates with the Platoon Leaders. Today, the radio was relatively silent. It gave us all a time to reflect on what we have done over the past 10 days. Part of that reflection for me is the close friendships that I have bound with certain people. For the past 4 years, I have ridden primarily with the Leadership Support Platoon, which is directly behind the Missing Man Formation. The riders in this Platoon have not varied much during these years. In fact, there has been a “core element” that has remained the same. Now, I knew that at least one of “my gang’ would not be coming back next year. And that made me wonder who else would not be returning.
This sort of reflection was on my mind all day. And in talking with many others, I could tell that they were having the same thoughts. I know of at least six people that will not be with us next year, from Leadership Support to Platoon Leadership to Road Guards. There will be changes in our Outreach Team and Ambassador Team. As sad as I am to know this, I am heartened to see several of this years FNG Class that I know will be stepping into leadership roles. I am not saying that I can predict the future. None of us can. But some of us “seasoned” RFTW Riders can sort of tell when an FNG “gets it” and fully understands what we are trying to do. I have seen that again this year! There are some very promising young Riders that I KNOW will be leading the Midway Route into the future. We are in for some exciting times!
Yes, the memorials are beautiful and somber, but we don’t let our emotions get the best of us. Today, we know that we are celebrating US. This park, and specifically the Weldon Mill Distillery is a great place to take group photos. I try to get every platoon, whether a service platoon or a Riders platoon, to gather together on the steps of the Mill for one final photo.
After the lunch, it was just a few short miles to the Moose Lodge in Hopewell, Virginia, where we would have our “recognition awards ceremony.” This is our chance to thank all of our Leaders and volunteers for the hard work that they put into the Midway Route. We get to acknowledge the contributions and successes of each Team, and start sowing the seeds for next year. That doesn’t mean we can let up on our duties for the next two days, but we can start “seriously” recruiting some of those eager (soon to be) former FNGs!
As all of the other Leaders were called up to receive a certificate and wall plaque, you could hear people joking, laughing, and even crying a few times, as we honored all achievements and heard people announce their plans for the future. This is where some of us found out who would not be returning next year and who definitely would be back. Again, it is both a sad and happy ceremony.
Finally, it was time to leave and head to our hotel for the evening. And that is why this SITREP is a little shorter than usual. We got here early. We are in a good mood. We have an early, but easy day tomorrow to get us into Arlington, Virginia. So tonight, we will laugh together, tell stories together, some may have a beer out in the parking lot, others were already playing a game of cards in the lobby. We will relax and enjoy the limited time we have left together. We will have some fun.
Tomorrow, the mood of the entire Route will change. We will wake up to the knowledge that this is the last time that we, the 2023 Midway Route Family, will be together as a singular unit. Once we arrive in Arlington and all the other Routes join us, we will never be the same. Our thoughts will be on finishing the Mission we started 10 days ago.
But that is tomorrow. Tonight, we will enjoy each others company.
Cheers!
Jim “Hoofer” McCrain
Midway Route Photographer and SITREP Author
When I get back home after the Run, I will start editing the photos that I have taken this year. They will be made available for you to use for free. They will be posted at www.jimmccrain.smugmug.com/Run-For-The-Wall. Just look for the 2023 Gallery.
Hoofer
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