March 23 – Hello Midway Route Family. I hope you are doing well and I’m sure you are with great anticipation looking forward to beginning the Run in another month and a half. I am as well. I have an idea I wanted to share with y’all. I spoke to Bandit about this idea and he concurred it was a good thing for us to do.
On Day 2, Thursday we cross from Arizona into New Mexico and stop at Milan Elementary School. Those of you that have been on the Midway Route previously may remember that we join with all the elementary school children and recite the Pledge of Allegiance together. This is a great event. You may also remember that after the pledge, the children recite the New Mexico Pledge as well as the Milan School Pledge. I was impressed with this act especially. The children wrote the school pledge themselves and they live it in their daily lives. My idea is to also join them in saying the New Mexico Pledge as well as the Milan Elementary School Pledge. The words are below. You can print this page and use it to help us join the children in saying these pledges together. I will also have copies to hand out at the Day 2 Mandatory Riders meeting in the morning. Please become familiar with these pledges. Perhaps memorize the words if you can and let’s join together as one with the children of Milan Elementary School in saying these pledges together. Let them feel the unity we share as a family of Riders who support our veterans, our military and our country, just as they do.
New Mexico Pledge –
“I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures”
(Clarification only – Zia symbol description – Zia is the name the Zia First Nation people attribute to the sun which they hold sacred and depict as a red circle with four rays emanating from it). All cultures depend on the sun. In that, we are all united and have something in common with the children of Milan Elementary school.
Milan Elementary Pledge –
“I pledge to be a person of character;
to help others when they need it;
to treat others the way I want to be treated;
to be caring, respectful, responsible;
be a good citizen;
be fair and trustworthy.
I count! You count!”
Let’s do this. Let’s show the children of Milan Elementary School we support them. Thank You!
Please email me with your comments or with anything you think needs correction or that needs inclusion.
“We Ride For Those That Can’t”
Tom “Twotone” Lystrup – lystruptf@gmail.com
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