Wow, October is already here! The leaves are turning and the weather is getting cooler here in Maryland. Soon we will have ghosts and goblins knocking at our door on Halloween. Please enjoy your fall weather!
Registration is open! Register as soon as you can to help leadership plan better. Remember, we need to let volunteers in each state know how many riders to expect so they can plan to assist us with our journey and mission. Fuel, food, lodging, and escorts all require a head count so their organizations can plan how to assist us in getting everyone to the Middle East Conflicts Wall safely.
Be sure to watch Hitch & Boots on the RFTW Podcast each month. They dive into Why We Ride with bios of fallen Heroes, introduce key members of each route and Organization Leaders, and provide excellent advice and information, including Tech Tips with Ted, as well as other fun facts and tidbits. Links can be found at RFTW.US in the ‘Scuttlebutt’ tab. In the “Connect” tab, you can also access RFTW sites on YouTube, X (Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, and even Facebook.
FNGs, WELCOME!! You are the future of the RUN. Your participation, ideas, and commitment to the organization are essential to keeping the mission going. Please do not shy away from asking questions, participating in everything you can, and becoming part of the family. Please reach out to our FNG Liaison Officer, Roger ‘Bullseye’ Ford, at roger.ford1234@gmail.com with any comments, questions, or concerns.
Volunteers are still needed for Staging, Fuel Team, and Road Guard positions. As volunteer forms come in, they are sent to the respective team leads for review. All Platoon leadership positions require GMRS communications. Please fill out your Volunteer form on the RFTW.US website.
It is still not too late if you have not submitted an After-Action Report (AAR). Please submit your report by clicking here. RFTW leadership reads every AAR to make the Run the best it can be, and we take AARs seriously. Do not be alarmed. The ExecBoD and the RCs read all AARs, but we do not respond directly to each submission.
We’ve begun compiling hotel lists, stops, and other key details along the way. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make the journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible for everyone. We have read the AARs and have heard about the issues you raise, and we are working to address the concerns that were raised. We are looking for alternative routes to get through Indiana.
Your Sandbox Route fundraiser shirts are coming soon. Once they are available, please go out and purchase one or ten if you like! For every shirt we sell, the Sandbox Route gets $10, and that amount goes into our route funds. You can purchase one by going to https://shop.rftw.us/ and clicking on 2027 Route Fundraiser shirts once they are available. While I’m on the subject of fundraising, we are looking for items we can auction off in St. Clairsville, Ohio. If you have skills or are willing to donate special items that we can auction off, please let us know.
If you are in the MD/DC/VA/PA area, please join the American Legion Post 72 in Warrenton, VA, for a Dice Run to benefit RFTW. Saturday, October 17th, at 10 AM. Lunch will be provided at the end of the Dice Run. See the flyer for details.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1, or by texting 838255 to speak or chat with a qualified responder.
“It’s the personal connections we make and nurture that establish RFTW as a Mission of the heart and a memorable experience that brings the Spirit of America to the forefront of your soul.” – Billie “Bugs” Dunlap
See you in Springfield, VA in May!
