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President’s Message – November 2024

And just like that, it is already November.

As we experience the back-and-forth of temperatures common during the fall/winter transition, I am taking advantage of those lovely days to get out and work on my riding skills. I continue to exercise not only to prepare for May but also because it positively impacts my daily life. What are you doing to prepare for Run 2025?

As we move into the holiday season, I ask that we take a moment and give thanks for the blessings we receive and continue to pray for those whose lives have drastically changed over the last year.

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.

RFTW Philosophy

We strive to maintain a safe, supportive and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, Illinois in the hope they can return home to a new beginning.

In 2015, Ken “Wish” Hargrove included the following in a newsletter update. It speaks volumes and is as appropriate today as it was then:

“We Ride for Those Who Can’t”— Six simple words with a very deep and wide meaning. You first-timers, or “FNG’s” as you are known, should be prepared to laugh, to cry, to have your breath taken away and to be humbled.

“We Ride for Those Who Can’t”— We ride for the veteran or family member who is unable to make the ride themself, When doing so we are responsible for carrying their need for healing cross-country to The Wall or from Wall to Wall.

“We Ride for Those Who Can’t”— We ride for our fellow riders who are in need of healing and in need of support as they are welcomed home, many for the first time ever.

“We Ride for Those Who Can’t”— We ride to bring awareness of the POW/MIA issues and the thousands of our brethren who have yet to be brought back home and to shine a light on the government’s lack of attention to this solemn commitment to leave no one behind.

I hope you have read in the RFTW forums and various RC newsletters that all routes are switching to GMRS for route communications. Kirk Olson, the CR RC, posted helpful videos on the forums to aid those needing assistance making the switch. I ride a 2015 Honda Goldwing and recently installed a Sena Freewire to connect with my Sena 50s, my phone, my GMRS, and the media system on the Wing.  It took a bit of patience along with some trial and error, but making that switch now and being able to test it all helps ensure I will be ready for Run 2025. Be prepared for some anomalies; for example, if I am talking on my phone, I cannot hear or transmit on the GMRS.  But then again, I don’t answer my phone while on the Run, so it is no big deal. I don’t typically carry my GMRS except while on the Run, so that nuance really has no impact.  However, installing and setting up the system now gives me plenty of time to work through the changes, so using it will become second nature.  BTW, there are links in the forums for discounts on the Baofeng GMRS radio and wireless Push-to-Talk switch.  This is not an RFTW endorsement for a particular manufacturer but a helpful link when searching for GMRS devices we tested and know work. Your mileage may vary.

Speaking of the forums, there are a few threads on regional or area informal meetings for RFTW-minded folks. This is a great way to maintain those friendships we establish as we continue to perform our Mission and yet another way to demonstrate our dedication to our veteran community publicly. I try to attend the monthly meetings in the Northeast (well, DC, VA, MD, and central PA) and encourage you to do the same.

Boots and Hitch continue to produce high-quality podcasts to reach out to folks and help explain the history and intricacies of RFTW. If you haven’t yet tuned in, I invite you to do so. The latest session, which focused on the first-ever father-son RCs, can be viewed here.

I want to mention again that Midway RC Eric Fort has set up a fundraising event called A Step to Remember. You can support Eric’s efforts through this Facebook event. I invite you to look at this event and consider contributing to this superhuman effort. This is truly personal for Eric, and his contribution to RFTW in remembrance makes this very special. Just a reminder, any fundraising events must be approved by the RC.  The RCs are responsible for reviewing and approving official RFTW fundraisers.  You need RC approval before launching the event if you use any RFTW intellectual property (logo, name, motto, etc.).

The practice session in Lot D last year was such a success that Batman and Flat Tire (Lance and Bernadette) are working on plans to do it again last year.  The feedback we received through your AARs was very positive.  More to follow as we get closer to May.

Speaking of Run 2025, you can now register here.  Our new 2025 merchandise is in the store, so while you are registering, consider purchasing some new swag.  Remember, if you are not going on the Run and want to register to show support for the Run, we ask that you go to our donation page and donate the amount of your registration fee instead of registering.  This helps keep our registration records clean so that our dedicated volunteers can better plan for the needs of our riders.

Much like the switch to the GMRS radio system, podcasts, electronic registration, and many other things, RFTW, like our society, must be postured to respond and react to societal changes.  There are significant differences between veterans across the various wars, cultures, and conflicts, and the Board of Directors is continuously working towards securing the future of the Run. We continue to read and analyze your AARs, emails, registration statistics, etc., to help ensure we focus on meeting all our riders’ needs.  Remaining stagnant is not an option; we will continue to work towards keeping the Run alive.

I leave you with this: It is not the worst thing to die in war; it is not the worst thing to be missing in war. The worst thing is to be forgotten in War.

No one is left behind is more than a standard we all live up to. It is a way of life. It is part of our Mission. If you or someone you know finds themselves struggling with mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1, or texting 838255 to speak or chat with a qualified responder.

Let us dedicate ourselves and our efforts and remember to keep our focus on the Mission. It is why we ride!

Say Their Names – Tell Their Stories – Never Forget.

Back to Basics. Back to the RFTW Mission.

Is it May yet?

TurkeyJohn “Turkey” Staub
President, RFTW, Inc.
2011- CR FNG
2012 – CR Participant
2013 – CR Staging Team
2014 – 2015 – CR Staging Team Ass’t. Lead
2016-2017 – CR Staging Team Lead
2022 – CR Platoon Coordinator
2023-2024 – CR/SB Road Guard