Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – July 2025

My name is Ed Brundage, and my road name is “Wind Dog” and yes, if you were a participant of the Midway route 2025, it’s me again.  I am honored to be your 2026 Run for the Wall, Midway Route Coordinator.  My thanks and appreciation goes out to the RFTW Board for my selection. The board is currently reviewing my nominees for Assistant Route Coordinator and Road Guard Captain. I will post the results in next months newsletter.

Just a little about me, I am a US Marine Veteran having served around the world and in two conflicts, Vietnam and Desert Storm and served primarily in Infantry combat units.  I retired from the USMC in 1991. I completed a second career in Law Enforcement in Southern California and fully retired after 17 years.

My first year on the Run was in 2008 and I’ve ridden “All the Way” on both the Central Route and Midway Route every year since minus the Covid years.

I have held various positions on the Run, most recently as the 2025 Midway Route Coordinator.

I am very aware of the healing properties of this run. It has helped me heal from the survivors guilt I suffered from for many years after Vietnam. The lastest numbers released tell a sad story of up to 44 veterans per day losing their lives to hidden demons they brought home with them from our continued “War on Terror”. If this run can heal and save just one of these hero’s, then the time, cost and effort is worth it. So, please get the word out to all you know about this runs purpose and goals.

For all you FNGs (Friendly new guys/gals): Everyone is welcome to ride with us, whether you have served or not

The Run leaves Ontario, CA on May 13, 2026 and rest assured planning is already underway for this incredible journey.

Whether you ride for one day or one leg, it is important to be involved and support the Run. You will find that this Ride will change you both emotionally and spiritually.

We Ride for Those Who Can’t

The Mission of Run for the Wall is “to promote healing among all veterans, and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all prisoners of war, and those missing in action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those killed in action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world”. This is why we ride.

We are one team and one family

The time begins now to start recruiting participants for the 2026 Run.  You are all ambassadors and recruiters for the Run.  Please get the word out and actively promote the Run.

Additionally, we need people to volunteer for the various positions of the Run, whether it be in a leadership or support role.  Even if you do not ride a motorcycle, there may be things you can do to help us out.  Please visit the volunteer page and sign up. Any and all positions are open until they are filled. First come, first served.

Volunteer Sign-Up – Run For The Wall®

Registration for the XXXVI Run for the Wall will open on September 11, 2025

In Closing, as we celebrate the founding of our nation, always remember, that 250 years ago, a very large group of very unhappy Colonialists rebelled against the sovereign King of England and wrote our “Declaration of Independence” It proclaimed to all humanity that as a new nation:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

“Freedom is not free” Men and women have been fighting our countries battles since its founding to ensure our hard-fought freedoms are not lost. Let us not forget but remember those serving who are still in harm’s way, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to those who are still unaccounted for in service of our country.