Say Their Name! Tell Their stories! Never forget!
IS IT MAY YET? Sadly, not yet.
September has proven to be a very busy month. As a reminder, registration for the 2024 RFTW opened on 11 Sep RFTW Registration – Run For The Wall®. If you desire to register to ride the Sandbox Route, Early Bird Registration is $15/person (11 Sep 2023-31 Jan 2024), Regular Registration is $20/person (1 Feb-30 Apr 2024), and Last-Minute Registration is $25/person (after 1 May 2024).
We started this busy month with Labor Day weekend was celebrated with the first of two RFTW reunions held at Angel Fire, NM. That weekend is marked annually for our Service/Workday honoring our fellow Veterans by laying bricks at the Angel Fire Vietnam War Memorial (led by the Central Route). This year we were able to lay approximately 525+ bricks, to include 5 Medal of Honor recipient bricks.
Shortly after Labor Day, we rolled right into the Remembrance for Sep 11, 2001. This marked an occasion to honor the brave souls and heroes that highlighted one of the worst days in American history. However, near and dear to the Sandbox Route, this also provided an opportunity to remember the heroism displayed by the passengers of Flight-93. Those that have ridden the Sandbox Route know this is a very special memorial we get the privilege of visiting and laying a wreath.
Then right around the corner, we celebrated POW/MIA Recognition Day on 15 Sep. This allowed us to honor those who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are still missing in action (MIA). This celebration should be very special to those who ride on Run For The Wall, since this is a primary reason it was started in 1989 by James “Gunny” Gregory. More importantly, these are who we ride for.
If those weren’t enough, we also have the benefit of sharing fun, fellowship and camaraderie with our RFTW Family during the second of two RFTW reunions, held in Kerrville, TX (27 Sep-1 Oct). If you’re interested, please see the Southern Route – September.
Then finally, for those that are still employed or support Uncle Sam, we walk (not run nor ride) into the next Federal Fiscal Year. I hope this end of Summer finds you doing well and unaffected by any possible Government Shutdown.
We have begun meeting with different Leadership to start planning for 2024. As we progress to May, I’ll need to ask everyone to remain flexible and adaptive. The leadership assignments and team sizes may change as we mature this year’s route details and plans. I remember the old motto of the Air Force, “Flexibility is the key to airpower.”
This is why we ride! Please take the time to visit the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial page here and become more familiar with the history of this memorial and the names included on this Wall. We ride “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.”
We are still in need of Volunteers (non-FNG’s) for a few positions. Please remember, Platoon Leadership positions require CB communications. If you are interested in any of these positions, please fill out a Volunteer form. Even if you have previously served on any given team, if you plan to do so again, please complete the volunteer form. If you have any Medical Training and would like to be a part of our Medical Team please complete the volunteer form.
If you have not submitted an After-Action Report (AAR) for the 2023 run, please do so by clicking HERE. There’s the old adage, “Help me, help you!” The Sandbox leadership reads these AARs to help improve this third (3rd) year of the Route in an effort to make the Run the best it can possibly be!
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND DOES NOT END ON THE BATTLEFIELD!
If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak/chat with a qualified responder.
Just like Winter, MAY is coming!
Cornell “THUMPER” Penn
Sandbox Route Coordinator (RC)
XXXIV-2024
