Our morning briefing included a safety briefing from Captain, the Road Guard Captain. Las Cruces did not provide LEO escorts in town, nor would they allow our road guards to stop intersections or direct traffic. This created an interesting situation. Two road guards were assigned to each platoon as we travelled through town, obeying ALL the traffic signals, stop signs and turns. After my platoon made it to the memorial I went up to thank our road guard. I told him I had never led a platoon, having to obey all the traffic laws. He laughed and said, me either. Well, for first timers, it went quite well.
Check this out, 3 Southern Route leaders, sharing the bad news of no LEO escorts through Las Cruces.
A big shout out to our Road Guards, up early, standing out on the hot pavement, getting us down the road. THANK YOU!
Stopped at the Las Cruces, Veteran’s Memorial Park, there was a nice ceremony. A short video is posted on the Run for the Wall Facebook page and Instagram of the National Anthem. Very moving to start the day with over 100 veterans singing the National Anthem.
Made it to Texas today! Texas and Texans are amazing! This is the fourth state on our journey. Some states we pass through the people, stuck in their cars on the side of the road get angry at the inconvenience of having to wait for us. In Texas, the people get out of their cars and salute the veterans as they ride by. THAT’S IMPRESSIVE.
We had lunch in Van Horn, delicious home made salads. Corn bread salad, I’ve never had it, care to share your recipes?
On to Odessa with a quick pit stop in Pecos for a fill up and empty out. (if you get what I mean 😝)
After 345 miles we pulled into Odessa and a delicious dinner of fried catfish, fried chicken, hush puppies and homemade ice cream. All prepared by Catfish and Company and donated by Brazos Door and Hardware of Odessa, Texas. Thank you Crossroads Fellowship Church for opening your doors to us. It was very nice to get done after a long, hot day and walk into a nice air conditioned building. Thank you to you all!
I have requested reports from the Ambassador team and Out Reach team. Tonight we have our first Ambassador Report:
ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME – AMBASSADOR REPORT
The Ambassador team encountered heavy traffic entering El Paso. General’s Driver was very concerned they would not make the assigned stops when out of nowhere, a Texas State Trooper came to the front of the team, turned on his lights and escorted the team through the heavy traffic to the next fuel stop where he was thanked and given a run pin.
Since we are in Odessa tonight, birthplace of Chris Kyle and the location of his monument, we will end tonight with a quote of his.
“It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don’t regret it. My regrets are for the people I couldn’t save: Marines, soldiers, buddies. I’m not naive, and I don’t romanticize war. The worst moments of my life have come as a SEAL. But I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my joB.” CHRIS KYLE God Bless you Chris and your family for your service and sacrifice.
Texas is my home state, so it is refreshing to see the signs of respect offered by a good majority of my fellow Texans. Thank you!