Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – April 2026

May is just around the corner. We are now just 43 Days from KSU.

We need to start considering our preparations for getting to Ontario and “On our Mission”.

What do we really need to pack for our 10-day adventure. Just the essentials because there is not a lot of room on the bike for anything else. And always remember, there are stores everywhere. It has always helped me to prepare a checklist of necessary items: Prescriptions, toiletries, changes of clothes, undergarments, extra glasses, long-sleeved shirts, socks, warm clothing for those cold mornings, extra gloves for those cold mornings, rain gear etc. If you have a rider, this also cuts your available space in half. I would start to practice packing now.

Is your bike ready? Has a qualified mechanic looked over it and told you it will make the total miles we will be traveling from your front door and back. Have you considered a couple of bottles of fuel additive in case we run into stations that do not carry 91 Octane? “Food for thought”!

Pre-Paid Fuel

The Pre-Paid fuel is open. It is MANDATORY this year. It will reduce the time spent at the pumps substantially. Time that you will need off your bike. Payments may be made using Zelle (Your bank should have this capability) and sending $160.00 payment to Midway.Route@rftw.us. Remember to add “Midway Pre-paid fuel 2026″ in the memo line.

We will receive notification of the payment and will have a list of those who pre-paid for fuel at Registration in Ontario.  You can also send a check made out to: Run For The Wall, Inc.  Put “Midway Route prepaid fuel” in the memo line. Mail to: RFTW Treasurer, 50 Fourth Ave Unit 1445, Dayton, NV 89403.  A third option is to pay cash at check-in at Ontario. There are no credit card options. Please remember, even with prepaid fuel you need to come to Staging each morning with a full tank of gas.

Route Itineraries

Itineraries will be published shortly and will be available on the Midway website. You can either print out a copy or use the QR code and download it to your phone or mobile device. This will provide you with a minute by minute, Day by day glimpse of exactly what you will be involved in. Additionally, I know many of you have friends that wish to meet you or stand on an overpass and recognize your personal adventure. The itinerary provides exact locations for you and your friends. Lastly, it also provides emergency Medical and Chase vehicle phone numbers to assist you with any issues you may face along the route.

Additionally, Safety instructions, Fueling procedures and friendly reminders of how we  conduct ourselves as representatives of Run for the Wall will be provided.

Pre-Run and Post-Run itineraries

All Pre-run (Ontario) and Post run (Springfield) itineraries have now been posted on the website. Please thoroughly review each one for required meetings, team meetings, registration times and locations, motorcycle repair facilities, events schedules, Sandbox meeting schedules, dinner arrangements, Riverside National Cemetery ride, the Marine Corps Band, ANC ride, RFTW picture location and time, RFTW  2026 ENDEX ceremony at the Apex of the Vietnam Memorial Wall and much more.

Registration

Surprisingly, There are still individuals who have not registered for the run. I personally know of 8 personnel who have waited because of potential family issues, but the time is now. Please go to the website and register as soon as possible. We need accurate numbers for all our meal providers, fuel providers (They need to know how much 91 Octane to have on hand), hotels etc.

Additionally, our registration team needs to have you on their computers, so we know if you have made it to Ontario

Hotel Reservations Reminder

As a friendly reminder, if you have not yet made your hotel reservations, please be aware that on May 1, the host hotels will release any remaining unused RFTW room blocks back into their standard inventory. This means that after this date, rooms previously set aside for RFTW participants may no longer be available, and you could have difficulty securing accommodations at the host hotels. To ensure you have a place to stay during the event, it is strongly recommended that you complete your hotel reservations as soon as possible.

End of Mission at the Wall

The RFTW picture at the Lincoln Memorial will be on 23 May at 0900. You need to be there early to find a good location for the photo. The Park Police informed us that they will be closely monitoring parking in marked areas this year and will issue citations for violations.  With that said, unless you really wish to ride your bike to the picture, cabs and uber are always available and relatively cheap if you divide the cost 4 ways. Immediately afterwards we will walk to the Vietnam Memorial and have the “End of Mission” ceremony” where all four route coordinators will lay the RFTW Mission plaque at the apex of the wall. This will occur at 0930 so you need to make your way to the wall with a purpose.

Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown

Midway has been assigned 19 motorcycles with 39 seats available to ride to the “Tomb of the Unknown soldier” and observe a laying of a wreath on behalf of all the riders from RFTW. This is truly an honor. The only motorcycles allowed on Arlington National Cemetery grounds are those from RFTW. I have selected a lottery method to fill those seats. FNG’s are my target population for this lottery. If you are interested, please contact your platoon leadership and give them your name. Staging for ANC will commence at 1330 on May 23 in the Pentagon south parking lot, I-395, exit 8B

More to follow on additional details

Rolling to Remember

If you’re not participating on the Sandbox route, you can join R2R (Rolling to Remember) for a ride around the Mall in Washington DC. Formerly called Rolling Thunder, this is not an RFTW event but you may ride with R2R voluntarily. A group leaves from the American Legion Post on the morning of the 24th, with staging starting after the Sandbox group’s 0715 departure (ETD: 0730).

Make sure you keep the ribbon on your clutch side mirror or your rftw wristband to get premier staging up in the front of the formation right behind the AMVETS group. This was arranged this year by your RFTW leadership in discussions with the AMVETS leadership. Bring your camera, snacks, sunscreen, and water.

Donations

As always, Donations are still welcome for the Midway route. Please share this with organizations, veteran groups, or friends who may wish to support us—RFTW is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. If any group plans to donate, remind them we are 42 days from KSU.

I’m excited for this year’s Midway route. The leadership team has worked hard to make your journey safe and smooth. They embody our guiding principle of “servant leadership”, so if you can, thank them with a handshake – they deserve it.

Pack and repack your bike. (You do not need as much as you may think). Walk, run, stretch, exercise!

Ride your bike, if possible. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!

We are getting closer fast and time fly’s, so do NOT procrastinate.

As always, if you have any questions, recommendations, concerns or you just want to clear up some things you are thinking about, contact your team leader, Platoon leader, FNG Coordinator etc. and please have that discussion. The RFTW Forum is also a great place to openly discuss issues or ask questions across all 4 routes.

My ARC (Assistant Route Coordinator) and I look forward to meeting each of you in Ontario.

“Say Their Name”      “Tell Their Story”         “ Never Forget”