Midway Route Coordinator Newsletter – September 2025

As we celebrate Labor Day and the official end of summer, we need to start thinking of things we need to accomplish between now and next May to be prepared for our Midway adventure.

FNG’s and Returning riders

Welcome to the Midway family! Let’s do a quick review of what our RFTW Organization is all about.

You do not need to be a veteran to ride, everyone is welcome! The ages of the participants range from eight to eighty. These include mothers, fathers, grandfathers, and grandmothers! Among the ridership you will find veterans, active-duty military, patriots, supporters, friends, and family.

“Is It May Yet”?

The Run occurs every May with the three coast to coast routes beginning around the middle of the month and culminating on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The fourth route “Sandbox”, begins on Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend. You will often hear members of the RFTW family lament, “Is it May yet?” because we are excited about this great ride and experience that we are preparing for you and wish it were May already.

Coast to Coast
Ontario, California to Washington, D.C.

Midway Route: May 13 – May 23 (10 days)
Central Route: May 13 – May 23 (10 days)
Southern Route: May 13 – May 23 (10 days)

Wall to Wall
Washington, D.C. to Marseilles, Illinois

Sandbox Route: May 25 – May 27 (3 days)

We Ride For Those Who Can’t

Run For The Wall began in 1989 as an effort by a couple of Vietnam Veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles, talking to local radio, television, and newspapers about the fact that we had thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from all our wars.

The need for this awareness continues, so RFTW riders maintain this tradition every May by riding their motorcycles from “coast to coast”, and since 2022 from “wall to wall”. RFTW does not give political speeches or stage demonstrations. Run For The Wall emphasizes its message by traveling through the United States in a safe and orderly manner, obeying traffic laws and treating all citizens with respect. Our motto is, “We Ride For Those Who Can’t”.

Raising public awareness is only part of the Mission of Run For The Wall. RFTW also gives veterans (from Vietnam and all wars and conflicts) the opportunity to receive the Welcome Home they so richly deserve, and an encouraging environment where they can further their healing process.

Many who have served our country, especially in combat, return with issues that may be unresolved. This can also extend to friends and families who have experienced the range of emotion and trauma associated with having a loved one go off to serve. RFTW riders find healing and camaraderie in the Run For The Wall family. They can finally start settling issues that have been put away for years.

Together We Ride

Run For The Wall is a motorcycle ride like none other. It is definitely not a party, but rather a mission of honor and an odyssey of patriotism and respect through the heart of the United States of America. On the Run we ride side by side (and in some cases staggered) in parade formation all the way. Each Route is led by a Route Coordinator and an Assistant Route Coordinator. At the head of the pack is the Missing Man formation.

 

The Missing Man Formation
The Missing Man Formation is a rolling salute to honor the memory of the fallen, KIA, MIA, or POW. Five bikes ride in formation with a space where one bike should be, symbolizing the person’s absence. On each leg of each route we honor a different individual in the Missing Man Formation. There is a short ceremony just prior to the departure of the pack and we SAY THEIR NAMES so that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

You will also notice that the riders participating in the Missing Man Formation do not wave at onlookers while riding in formation. Their ride is solemn and sincere – a rolling salute. This is the highest form of honor and respect, and serves as a stark reminder of those who sacrificed their future for that of our nation. May their memories always be a blessing and may we never forget that freedom is not free.

The main pack of motorcycles is divided into platoons. Each platoon is headed by a Platoon Leader and an Assistant Platoon Leader as well as one or two Tail Gunners to help pace the group.

While most of the vehicles are conventional two-wheeled motorcycles (of all makes and models), there is also a healthy contingent of trikes and three-wheel vehicles such as Can-Am Spyders – and even a few motorcycles and trikes who tow trailers. That said, we do allow 4-wheel vehicles to register and drive the route of their choice, with the proviso that 4-wheelers drive 15 minutes (give or take) ahead of the pack and not interfere with the parking or staging of the pack at any of the stops. (Alternatively, 4-wheel vehicles may drive behind the pack, behind the last man vehicle and any chase trucks/trailers, but we prefer that you drive out ahead….) Four-wheel vehicle participants will still be able to take part in all the RFTW activities, but you must remain safely out of the way of the motorcycle pack. Please consider that some fuel stops and/or lunch stops are quite compressed and room to maneuver any 4-wheel vehicle around the 300-400 motorcycles staged in tight quarters could be challenging. (Polaris Slingshot – Our Official Policy on Polaris Slingshot’s is that these vehicles are the size of and essentially a “small car” and will follow the aforementioned protocol of other 4-wheel vehicles.)

Registration

Registration for the 2026 Run For The Wall will open on September 11th, 2025 @ 8:46 a.m. (EST), 7:46 a.m. (Central), 6:46 a.m. (MST), 5:46 a.m. (PST)

Please put this on your calendar, make a cup of coffee and be ready when registration opens. We really need your support on this to gather data necessary for additional planning. Thank you, in advance for your support.

I challenge each of you to be the first one to get registered. I will identify who that is in the next Monthly newsletter and I will come up with a recognition of your dedication to the Midway route. Remember “First come, first served”.

Gulf War Veterans

The Midway 2026 family will be recognizing all Gulf War veterans on the 35^th Anniversary of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm this coming year. This was the first war that America and her allies had won decisively Since World War II. More to follow on planned events

Pre-Paid Fuel                                                          

We will be offering a pre-paid fuel option again in 2026. My leadership team and I are researching costs. We hope to maintain the same cost as 2025. Taking advantage of this offer is extremely important so our road guards and fuel team traffic control personnel can get you quickly off the road, into the pumps and to the staging location as safely and efficiently as possible where you can get off your vehicle, get hydrated and use the facilities. If you are fumbling in your wallet for money to pay your fuel cost, it lengthens the time for each vehicle at the pump.

Just as a “Heads up”, I may make pre-paid fuel mandatory for 2026 for just the reasons I discussed above.

Opportunities

Are you interested in further supporting Midway Route this year? Do you like being a part of the planning process? Then I have a great opportunity for you. Our Arkansas State Coordinator is in need of an Assistant State Coordinator. Our Coordinator does a phenomenal job in laying the ground work for a safe and enjoyable travel through Arkansas and is in need of some help covering all the bases. If you live in Arkansas and are interested or have questions please reach out to me via email at ed.brundage@rftw.us. We would love to have you join us as a member of our leadership team!!

With registration opening shortly, Midway is in need of a Registration team lead. This is a critical role as you are often times the first face our riders meet at Run for the Wall. Representing RFTW in a professional and positive manner is a must. You must be able to go All the Way from CA to DC as registration is conducted not only in Ontario prior to Midway’s departure but also during the Run at our evening stop or in the morning prior to the morning meeting (preferably at the evening stop!) The ideal candidate is one that can not only articulate the registration/check-in process and its requirements but also accurately complete the process electronically and manually if required; distribute registration materials; generate daily reports. This is a quick highlight of the role and responsibilities. If you are interested in this key role or would like further information please contact me directly at ed.brundage@rftw.us.

I also currently need a driver for the Midway Merchandise trailer.
Your lodging and fuel costs will be paid for while you are towing our merchandise trailer in support of the Midway route. Again, please contact me at ed.brundage@rftw.us if you would be interested in supporting the Midway route. – – – Thank you, in Advance!

Lastly, please spread the word about Run for the Wall and the Midway route. Invite a friend to ride along. Convince a fellow veteran to ride with you to acquire the healing this adventure provides to many veterans who are struggling with their service.

There are Posters, general information flyers, tri-fold flyers and even some talking points to provide you assistance when discussing the miracle that is Run for the Wall.

You will find them on the RFTW website under “MEDIA” as a drop-down menu. Just click on what you would like and hand them out.

This ride is about the Mission, the Mission, the Mission!!

RFTW Mission Statement

“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.”

Please join our mission, get personally involved, pass the word and always remember the ones who went before us and some who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Say their names”  “Never Forget”  “Tell their stories”

“Is it May yet”