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March Store Specials

Certain merchandise will be on special starting this Wednesday, 3/20 (start of Iraqi Freedom) thru 3/29 (Vietnam Veterans Day). Buy one of the shirts listed below and get 50% off another. These will qualify for free shipping with no order minimum!

  1. RFTW Black POW*MIA Men’s Shirt
  2. RFTW Gray Performance Men’s Shirt
  3. RFTW Logo Royal Blue Ladies V-Neck
  4. RFTW RED Support Our Troops Men’s Shirt w/Eagle

Also, save 50% off any of the bundles and certain collectables as shown in the list below:

  1. FNG Hat Bundle
  2. New Registration Bundle
  3. Run For The Wall(R) Belt Buckle
  4. 2024 RFTW Wristband
  5. RFTW POW*MIA Stainless Steel Dog Tag
  6. Car & Bike Flags (excludes USA and POW*MIA)

May is just around the corner so take advantage of these savings while you can!

Alan “Xbox” Steiner
Director of Merchandise, RFTW
ATW Central 2012, 2022-2024
Sandbox 2024
https://rftw.us

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Midway Route Coordinator March News Letter

Well, here it is the Middle of March already!!!!  We are growing in numbers daily.  We now have about 90 FNGs and 255 riders signed up.

Spring has sprung for you I hope!!!  It is time to get your ride out and go over it from top to bottom in preparation for the run.  Tires/ Oil/ CB are important but you yourself is the key—-Please put a few miles on riding in preparation also.  Riding skills only improve by riding!!!  You also need to begin Hydration.  We ride through some very arid/hot and humid country over the 11 Days so HYDRATE_HYDRATE!!! You will hear that frequently.

Our State Coordinators are working hard to ensure we have the support we need across the nation.  They have done a great job!  If you have not registered, I encourage you to do so, as soon as possible.  We develop the daily meal plans based on registration.

We have not had much response to our plan of remembrance.  You don’t have to be on the run to submit a name.  If there is someone that has passed away in 2023 that has participated on the Midway Route could you please forward their name and the date of passing to zoewhat1@aol.com.  Thank you and may we remember them always!!!  SAY THEIR NAMES!!

Again, I remind everyone that the itinerary will be out by the first of next month on the Midway Hub. It will not be published in a hard copy book this year.  I encourage all of you, to either create a file on your electronic device or print and laminate a copy prior to your departure from home.

We have one promotion running right now managed by Gina Cutrer and Randy Olgin.  It is posted on the Midway RFTW site and Facebook.   A $1000.00 cash drawing to be drawn at the all-hands meeting on Monday before our departure on Tuesday.  The tickets for the cash drawing are one for $10.00, Seven for $50.00, twenty for $100.00, thirty for $150.00.  You can use ZELLE Midway.Route@rftw.us to pay for the cash drawing tickets, prepaid fuel, or to make a donation.  Be sure to note in the memo line what the money is designated for (Prepaid Fuel / Cash Drawing / Donation).  If you prefer to mail a check, then make the check payable to:  Midway Route RFTW and mail to Lily Lieux. 6426 Bridgeport Drive, Greenwell Springs, la. 70739 no later than 20 April 2024.  Again, be sure to note in the memo line of the check what the money is designated for (Prepaid Fuel / Cash Drawing / Donation).  Any checks received after 20 April 2024 will be returned unprocessed.

Our number of FNG’s continues to grow and our FNG Coordinator, ROGER FORD, is planning another Zoom call for the 23rd of March at 7PM Central Standard Time. Be on the lookout for the announcement on the social media pages, as well as, your email inbox for the Link. If you don’t get an invitation, please call / Text / email Roger or Myself.  We are both listed in the Midway Contact Tab on the RFTW website. Plan to participate, it is your chance to meet the primary team leads and to ask any of your unanswered questions.  Look forward to seeing you all there.  Welcome to the Midway Family!

Another exciting event that has yet to be published is a wreath laying at Arlington Cemetery on Saturday, 25 May.  We have been authorized to bring 75 bikes (150 FNGs) into Arlington for that event. The BOD and Route Leadership from all four route are working on the details of how many riders from each route will be allowed to attend.  If you are an FNG going All-the-Way let Roger know if you would like to participate in this activity.  If you are a single rider you need to  let another FNG ride with you. We want to fill all of the allocated spaces.  This is a unique opportunity, we have not been allowed to do on the run since 2019.  We need to take advantage of it.  Please, don’t signup if you are not sure about going!!!

Finally, we are still short of volunteers on some of our teams.  Merchandise needs one or two people to help sell shirts and other items out of the Midway Merchandise Trailer.  Fuel and staging still has a need for volunteers.  If you would like to volunteer, please submit a volunteer form or contact me at: email- don.king@rftw.us or text/ call me at 662-229-8304.

Only 64 days till KSU for the 10th Anniversary Run for Midway Route!!!

I look forward to seeing you all in Ontario!!!

Don “10-A-SEE King
RFTW Midway Route Coordinator 2024

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2024 Southern Route Coordinator March Newsletter

Welcome to the March newsletter.

This month we acknowledge both the National Medal of Honor Day March 25th and Vietnam Veterans Day on March 29th!

Why do you ride or participate in the RFTW Mission?

Our RFTW Mission is:

  “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.” 

 This is why we RIDE; This is why I RIDE!

Until they all come home, until they are all accounted for, we must continue to Live a Life worthy of their Sacrifice! Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, and Never Forget! 

The planning and preparation for the RFTW 2024 Mission continues and I have a lot of different topics to cover in this newsletter so please, take your time and read the entire newsletter! The Board of Directors, Route Coordinators, and Asst. Route Coordinators held the spring “Face to Face” meeting Via Zoom this past weekend.  I would call it a very productive and successful meeting. Most of our preparations have been finalized but our State Coordinators continue to make additional preparations at our stops and some are even adding special last-minute items for us.

By the time you read this, we will be down to less than 70 days until KSU on the Southern Route. For many, that means less than 60 days before they leave home and head out to join us in Ontario. As of the writing of this newsletter, we have a total of 345 riders and participants registered for the Southern Route. If you have not already registered, please do so as soon as possible. You can register HERE. ALL registration is conducted on-line via this website link so please register prior to your arrival to make things go smoothly and quickly!

Preparation and Safety
Now is the time, if you haven’t already, to get your bikes in tip top shape! Get them serviced, get them inspected, and make sure your state registration and insurance are all up to date and valid through the end of May 2024. Pack up your bikes etc. with everything you are taking and get out on the highway or interstate on a test ride. Make sure you’re familiar with how your bike is going to handle with the added gear. Make sure you can safely control your bike, stop, start, and tight turns while loaded! Be sure that everything is safely secured and will not become a hazard to other riders.

As you prepare your bikes or other modes of transportation, you also need to prepare yourselves, mind, and body too! This is NOT a weekend ride. Be sure you have your Emergency Information Form filled out – completely! It will be checked daily by your Team Leaders and/or Platoon Leaders. It is MANDATORY and you cannot ride without it. If you take medication, be sure that you listed it on your EIF and that you have enough of your prescribed medications with you for your entire trip.

It’s time for everyone to start hydrating! It is much easier to hydrate than it is to re-hydrate! Generally, it is recommended to drink a liter of water a day to stay hydrated. However, this can depend on your age, body, underlying medical conditions, and what physical exercise you are doing on that day. Being extremely thirsty, having dry mouth, fast breathing, fast heart rate, and/or low blood pressure are all significant signs of dehydration. However, what many of us will likely feel first is fatigue – both mentally and physically! Be aware and stay HYDRATED!

You will hear this mantra from now until we reach DC – Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! 

I will add that just because you feel fatigued – both mentally and physically, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are dehydrated. This mission is demanding, and everyone is different. Bottom line is to be safe and be aware of the signs that your body is giving you.

Also, be prepared for any and ALL weather conditions, we do not stop to “gear up”. A perfect example is our ride into Odessa, TX in 2023. This picture depicts some of what the Pack encountered!

 

Southern Route Daily Itinerary
Our official Itinerary is scheduled to be published on the RFTW website on or about March 31, 2024. There are no changes to our Night stops as indicated in our Hotel List.  Even though the 2024 Itinerary isn’t posted yet with the minute to minute timeline of our stops, you can check out the updated 2024 Southern Map & Stops here! The map has been updated and includes all of our stops including our new gas stops! There will not be any printed Itinerary’s available this year; for any Route. If you want a printed copy of the itinerary to carry with you, you will need to print your own once the Itinerary is published.

Southern Route FNG Zoom Meeting
A Southern Route FNG (Fine New Guy or Gal) Zoom meeting has been scheduled for March 13, 2024 @ 7pm Central. This meeting is for ALL 2024 SR FNG riders and participants. The SR currently has 110 riders and participants who have registered as FNG’s! An email has been sent to each SR registered rider who identified themselves as an FNG on their registration. If you are a SR FNG rider, please make every effort to attend this meeting. SR Leadership will answer any of your questions and provide additional information and advice to support your safe and successful mission. This meeting is especially important to SR FNG riders who will not be starting in Ontario, CA since they will not be able to attend the FNG meeting there. If you did not receive the email please reach out to me @ darin.lurch.koch@rftw.us or Mike Kyzer @ mike.kyzer@rftw.us

Missing Man Formation
Our Missing Man Coordinator has multiple openings to ride in the Missing Man Formation (MMF). If you are interested in riding the MMF, please send an email to Missing Man Coordinator Rick “Speed Bump” Shoaf at Rick.Shoaf@rftw.us. Rick will explain the process, requirements, and expectations of riding in the MMF during the run. This is open to all riders, not just FNG’s, and we are not excluding anyone including our volunteer Road Guards, Fuel, Staging, Ambassadors, and Platoon Leadership positions.

Platoon Leadership and Volunteers
Unfortunately, some of our experienced Platoon Leadership volunteers have had to withdraw from participating in the Run this year so we now have some openings available in Platoon Leadership positions. We need Platoon Leaders, Asst. Platoon Leaders, and Tail Gunners. If you have any questions about these positions or are interested in volunteering for Platoon Leadership, please submit a volunteer request here or contact Platoon Coordinator Kevin “Short” Short directly @ kevin.short@rftw.us.

We are also looking for additional volunteers to assist with the Fundraiser and 50/50 duties each day along the Route. Also, we are also looking for interested individuals to fill the role of SitRep writer and Social Media Representative. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these positions, please send me an email @ darin.lurch.koch@rftw.us.

Pre-Paid Fuel
For the second year the Pre-Paid fuel option will be available on the Southern Route. If you are riding from California to DC, we encourage all riders to take advantage of the Pre-Paid fuel option. As a direct result of the Pre-Paid fuel option, Southern Route saw a significant decrease in the amount of time it took to fuel the entire pack last year. Shorter waiting times in the fuel lines equate to more down time off the bikes for the riders and that means more time for hydration, snacks, and bathroom breaks!

Please keep in mind that the Pre-Paid fuel option applies to the 23 planned and coordinated fuel stops we will be making during the day while on our Mission. ALL riders are still required to fuel on their own filling their tanks prior to staging each morning. Whether you decide to top-off at night on the way to your hotel; or on your way to staging in the morning; you must still fill up your gas!

The Pre-Paid fuel option is $150.00. You can take advantage of the Pre-Paid fuel option early by using the Zelle payment app and sending $150.00 to Southern.Route@rftw.us If you use the Zelle app, please add “SR Pre-Paid Fuel 2024” in the Memo line. We will receive the notification of the payment and will have a list of those who have Pre-Paid at Registration in Ontario, CA.

You can also send a check to:

Run For The Wall Inc.
50 Fourth Ave #1445
Dayton, NV 89403

If you send a check you need to add a note about what Route you are on and what the check is for i.e Southern Route Pre-paid Fuel/Southern Route Luggage Fundraiser.

Fundraising
The Southern Route is offering a fundraising opportunity that may benefit all riders’ safety! Our newest fundraiser is the Luggage Fundraiser. The SR will have a dedicated enclosed trailer to transport luggage.  This will allow riders to remove bags normally strapped onto their bikes and have them securely transported for them from our morning starting location to our nightly dinner stop. This adds to the safety of all riders by removing bags that could obstruct other riders’ view of bikes in front of them; preventing a rider from focusing on a loose item on another bike around them; removes the added weight allowing for better control of your bike while riding in formation. Riders will be required to drop off their bag(s) at the morning staging/breakfast location. Bags will not be available until our final night/dinner stop. Riders will be restricted to 2 bags per bike. A check-in/check-out procedure will be followed ensuring no-one absconds with a bag that is not their own. The cost will be $7 per day or $50.00 for all 10 days. A prorated rate may be available depending on your starting location. Ask at check-in!  If you wish to take advantage of this new fundraiser, you can also prepay by using the Zelle app and sending to Southern.Route@rftw.us  Please add “Luggage Fundraiser” to the memo section when submitting your payment.

If you plan to purchase the Pre-Paid Fuel and the Luggage Fundraiser all in one transaction; please enter both “SR Pre-Paid Fuel 2024” and “Luggage Fundraiser” on the memo line. If you are paying for more than one bike, please note that as well.

Another Southern Route fundraiser this year will be this patch. They will be sold beginning in Ontario and throughout the 10-day mission or until we run out. Each patch will be $5.00, and proceeds will be used to support our Veterans along the way.

FNG ride into Arlington National Cemetery
As you may have heard, we will have a very limited number of motorcycles allowed to ride as a group into Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday the 25th of May for a wreath laying in section 60. The BoD is still working on a fair and equitable way to determine who will be riding motorcycles into ANC. RFTW as a group is limited to 75 bikes (150 people on those bikes) total from all 4 Routes. It will likely be based on several factors which will be published once a final decision is made.

Ride into Riverside National Cemetery / March Air Force Base Museum in California
(Copied from the President’s Message).  “As you may have seen in a FB post, Carol is working on the possibility of riders going to the March AFB museum following the ride the Riverside National Cemetery. This is a Tuesday event, with KSU tentatively scheduled for 0815 from the Elks Club. The Elks will be serving breakfast so our riders can stage, eat, and leave from the same location. Right now, the cost of entrance to the museum is $10, but Blaze is trying to get that lifted. If you are interested in going to the museum, please email Carol at carollolmstead@ymail.com so she can provide a head count. Rumor has it that the museum is planning to rope off a parking area for us.”

You must be registered and CHECKED IN to go on this ride, so get to Ontario and get Checked in on Monday the 13th.

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 or chat with a qualified responder.

 

 


Darin “Lurch” Koch

RFTW Southern Route Coordinator 2024

 

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Run For The Wall SandBox Route Newsletter – March 2024

Run for the Wall®

Hello Sandbox Riders!

I first want to shout out to everyone that has volunteered  – I am so grateful for you.  Thank you for stepping in to serve at such a late date and pulling things together in record time!  We could not have gotten this far without the staunch support and never quit mindset of my ARC, William “COB” Brehler, and my Admin Angel, Mike “Bonehead” Kyzer, my mentor, Darin “Lurch” Koch, and the other RCs, Nick “Rich Boy” Hentges and Don “10-A-See” King, who have stood ready with wisdom, advice, and insights for every single question I had, whether panicked or frustrated or confused. I admit, my friends, it’s been a Challenge…and yes, at times I’ve lost my joy.  But…the Mission we share underlies a mountain of minutiae and it is shining through!  I am beginning to feel that familiar ache in my bones to hit the road, and make my way West to the starting point of it all.  Is it May yet?!

One thing is bedrock in my mind:  I am SO looking forward to seeing y’all in May, my RFTW Family. But we need to get through a heap of details before I can see your grinning faces.  So let’s do it! As promised in my last newsletter, we’ve made a lot of progress since then, so I am going to put out a lot of info in this newsletter. Time to take care of business:

Please Register Soon
Registration for Sandbox is now $20. Be sure to lock in your registration as soon as possible. Timely registration helps us in the planning process, as we make platoon assignments, and arrangements for fuel, food, lodging, special use permit applications, and outreaches. It also ensures that you are invited to RFTW’s Townhalls, and Sandbox Zoom meetings for platoons and our very own Townhall too! (TBA soon)

REGISTER HERE.

Pre-Paid Fuel is here!
As a Rider, I know this is an important convenience for us, and let me tell you, it sure streamlines the fueling process (which means more KSD time for YOU!).  I was so excited last year, when I learned the cross-country Routes had adopted the prepaid fuel option that I was like “TAKE MY MONEY!” during check-in! The knowledge that I wouldn’t have to fumble for dollars with one hand while managing my bike with the other, all while sweating it out in a crush of shifting, moving bikes gave me such sweet relief.  I remember the palpitation of my heart during my FNG year while trying to pay for my fuel in cash and NOT drop the money or kill my bike from inattention – every fuel stop was truly an anxious moment for me! Fast forward to today, and Prepaid Fuel is here to save the day!

There are two fast and easy ways to prepay for fuel ($60):

The fastest:  Open your Zelle app, and send $60 to Sandbox.Route@rftw.usPlease be sure to annotate what the payment is for in the memo line such as Prepaid Fuel.  (I’ve included more details about Zelle* in the footnotes at the end of the newsletter.)

The easiest:  pay online with a card through the Sandbox dedicated payment channel.  Go to the Run For The Wall website’s Sandbox Hub and select Sandbox Route Donations from the menu. Easy peasy!

The cut-off date for Prepaid Fuel is May 10! This is to ensure that the pre-payment is properly credited to your registration. Please note that personal checks are not accepted by Sandbox Route at any time, to include check-in. So get it done via card and early to take advantage of this convenience.   You will get a window sticker at your check-in and you’ll never have to think about it again!  Just rolllllll on into your fuel stop care-free – and our hard-working Fuel Crew will thank you for one less thing to juggle!

And if you needed any more convincing…as a direct result of the prepaid fuel option, the cross-country Routes saw a significant decrease in the amount of time it took to fuel their entire Packs last year. Less time waiting in the fuel line equaled more down time off the bikes for hydration, snacks, and bathroom breaks!

Please keep in mind that the prepaid fuel option applies to the six planned and coordinated fuel stops we will be making during the day while on our Mission. ALL Riders are still required to fuel on their own filling their tanks prior to staging each morning. Whether you decide to top-off at night on the way to your hotel, or on your way to staging in the morning, you must still fill up your tank!

Luggage Carry Fundraiser!
With many thanks to my mentor, Lurch, and my Admin Support, Bonehead, for the opportunity, Sandbox Route is offering Luggage Carry Service for $15!  The funds raised from this service stay in the Sandbox Route to pay for things we never had a chance to fundraise for.

The Sandbox Route will have a dedicated enclosed trailer to transport luggage.  This will allow riders to remove bags normally strapped onto their bikes and have them securely transported for them from our morning starting location to our nightly dinner stop. This adds to the safety of all riders by removing bags that could obstruct other riders’ view of bikes in front of them; preventing a rider from focusing on a loose item on another bike around them; and removes the added weight allowing for better control of your bike while riding in formation. Riders will be required to drop off their bag(s) at the morning staging/breakfast location. Bags will not be available until our final night/dinner stop. Riders will be restricted to 2 bags per bike. A check-in/check-out procedure will be followed ensuring no-one absconds with a bag that is not their own. The cost will be $15 for the duration of our Mission.  If you wish to take advantage of this new fundraiser, you can prepay by using the payment methods outlined above:  use the Sandbox online payment channel or the Zelle app at Sandbox.Route@rftw.us.  (Please add “Luggage Carry Fundraiser” to the memo section when submitting your payment via Zelle.)

Speaking Of…Donations
Hey, I won’t get mad if y’all want to donate a little extra to Sandbox Route. You don’t even have to be riding with us this year.  Perhaps you just want to support the Mission. We haven’t had a chance to fundraise, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to just outright ASK!

You can send any amount via Zelle to Sandbox.Route@rftw.us and just annotate “Donation” in the memo. Or use our handy-dandy dedicated Sandbox Route Donation link in the Sandbox Hub!

Honor Guard Participation
Our Honor Guard Coordinator is Roger “Bullseye” Ford, and he is overseeing the escort of several American flags that have been flown over Washington D.C. in an F-35 jet.  He is inviting anyone interested in carrying a flag for a leg of the Sandbox Route or participating in the ceremonial presentation of some of these special flags at our stops to please contact him at roger.ford1234@gmail.com.  We will also have a Gold Star/Fallen Soldier tribute flag for ALL Riders to sign at Sandbox check-in in D.C. and at lunch/dinner stops.

Missing Man Formation
Riding in the Missing Man Formation is a very special and moving moment for our Riders, and you won’t want to miss the opportunity.  Our Missing Man Coordinator has multiple openings to ride in the Missing Man Formation (MMF). If you are interested, please send an email to Missing Man Coordinator Ray “Cornman” Cornmesser at cornman88@hotmail.com. Ray will explain the process, requirements, and expectations of riding in the MMF during the Run.

Volunteers Needed!
I am still looking to fill vacant volunteer spots in Leadership Support. Please send through a Volunteer Form if any of these positions interest you, and I will reach out to you:

50/50 Rouser
Asst 50/50 Rouser
Friends of Bill Coordinator

And we need a few more Ambassadors too! Please reach out to our Ambassador Team Lead Jed “SquirtGun” Gilman at jed.gilman@rftw.us.

Route Lodging Update: Ottawa
I want you to know about some special accommodations that have been made for ALL RFTW Riders in Ottawa, IL.  The link for the Holiday Inn Express in Ottawa was added to our Sandbox Hub in February, long after the publication of the Hotels List on January 1st.  However, what’s unusual about this listing is that you can take advantage of these special rates and local discounts after our End of Mission, or anytime YEAR-ROUND that you may visit the MECMW! This is due to the passionate support of our Mission by Justine Larabee, Director of Sales:

Greetings Heidi (and all RFTW  Riders),

I am so excited to announce to you that my team and I have been working on getting a booking link set up for your future stays at our hotel and for any travel that comes through our area for the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall. Your message and mission mean the world to me and our team at the hotel looks forward to your arrival every year.

The link below will lead to a discounted rate of 15% off of stays at our hotel. Talking with you was truly so special. I have no way to express how much what you do for our veterans truly means to me. I am so thankful for your organization and the healing that you bring to our veterans and their families. Thank you for everything that you do to better the tomorrows of so many lives.

Here is the link to our hotel for 15% off your stay, no matter what time of year you visit the MECMW.

Here are the details about our restaurant discounts that are available to our guests;

Lone Buffalo – 20% OFF bill – 1.9 miles from the hotel – 808 LaSalle St. Ottawa, IL

Rosati’s Pizza & Sports Pub – $5 OFF bill – 1 mile from the hotel – 375 W. Stevenson Rd., Ottawa, IL

Tapatio’s Mexican Restaurant – 15% OFF bill -.4 mile from the hotel – 3005 Columbus St., Ottawa, IL

Our team is so excited to see this come to life and we can’t wait to see you. Thank you, so very much, for everything Heidi. I hope that you have a wonderful evening.

That may be just enough to slow your roll out of Marseilles and enjoy a mellow evening in Ottawa after our End of Mission.

Oh Wait! There’s More…

If you’ve read this far, well done!  Just a few more things to let percolate:  I have scheduled a Platoon Leadership Zoom Meeting for next Monday, March 11th. I will disseminate a lot of info in that meeting that your PL’s will likely pass on to you in Platoon meetings that will be scheduled during the week of March 25-29. You will get an invitation link to that meeting ONLY IF you are already registered. SO GIT-R-DONE! I know that was a lot of info to throw at you in one long newsletter, so I will sign off for now.

I am looking forward to May, and riding together for those who can’t.  Let’s ride with gratitude, unity, and a shared commitment to our Mission. See you down the road, Family!

WE RIDE FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T
WALL 2 WALL
54

In gratitude and joy,

Heidi BLUE Hansing

 

***********************************

* About Zelle: Nearly all major US banks provide Zelle to their customers. Zelle is primarily designed to work with traditional bank accounts, but there are some workarounds and alternative options available for those who do not have a bank account.  One workaround is to use a prepaid debit card. While not all prepaid cards are compatible with Zelle, some do work with this service*.  Another option is to utilize a friend or family member’s bank account. Using a prepaid debit card or relying on a friend or family member’s account can provide a way to utilize Zelle’s services.

*Prepaid Cards Supported by Zelle

  • American Express Serve: American Express Serve® Card is an all-in-one prepaid debit account that comes with a virtual card and physical card.
  • Green Dot Prepaid Visa: Green Dot Prepaid Visa® is a prepaid debit card that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted.
  • Netspend Prepaid Visa: A prepaid card with a Visa® logo and chip that can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
  • Vanilla Gift Cards: The Vanilla® Gift Card is a prepaid card with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express logo that can be used anywhere cards are accepted.
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New Director Announcement

Run for the Wall

The Board of Directors is looking to fill the position of Director of Social Media.

This is a critical, sensitive position with a 3-year commitment that requires certain skills to further the public persona of RFTW with an eye towards attracting new riders. We live and work in a hugely electronic environment, so knowledge and familiarity with computers, social media platforms, video editing and production, etc., is paramount.

The successful candidate will have a background in the use of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and similar tools like Zoom. Knowledge and experience in actively participating on a variety of social media platforms is essential. The successful candidate will need to be closely attuned to the Bylaws and SOPs of RFTW and be willing and able to actively work on multiple social media programs and platforms. Occasional training sessions with route volunteers to ensure an understanding of our social media objectives may be required. Public speaking ability is critically important.

The bylaws describe the duties of Director of Social Media as follows: The Director of Social Media is responsible for content continuity across all social media platforms. This includes producing and creating video and written posts, monitoring various social media accounts for inappropriate content (to include RFTW online forums if applicable), and presenting a positive public image intended to attract riders more attuned with using various social media venues. Provides annual and before Run training for route social media coordinators, photographers, videographers, and sit-rep writers to ensure they understand and comply with a positive, mission-focused public presentation representing Run For The Wall in all they do. Works closely with the website creator/maintainer to ensure our public presentation is consistent across all venues. May be assigned other duties as determined by the Board or BoD President.

Appointment to the BoD places demands on your free time. We meet a minimum of once a month, often twice. There are occasional emergency online meetings with as little as 5 days’ notice. Occasional travel is required with certain travel expenses reimbursed. In July each year the BoD convenes Face to Face meetings where attendance is paramount. Our winter Face to Face meeting may be in person or via video teleconferencing. We also meet Face to Face each year in Ontario prior to the Run.

The successful candidate will submit a resume outlining their skills relevant to those listed here, along with a brief description of their Run experience, social media experience, and the names of three references we may contact. Veterans are also required to submit an SSAN-redacted copy of their DD-214 that shows Character of Service (type of discharge). Once selected, the successful candidate will also have to submit to a Character & Fitness Examination (CFE), essentially a background check at the Board’s expense. Additionally, the BoD reserves the right to interview candidates for positions on the Board of Directors during the selection process.

Those wishing to apply should submit their package to Secretary@rftw.us no later than 30 March 2024. Questions can be directed to President@rftw.us.

If you want to serve Run for the Wall, this is an excellent opportunity to impact the future of our organization. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Central Route Coordinator Newsletter March 2024 First Edition

Aloha Run for the Wall O’Hana

I cannot believe we are in March already! Time is starting to move faster for the team putting together the Run!

The Board of Directors (as well as Route Coordinators and Assistants) held our “Face to Face” Spring meeting (Via Zoom) this past weekend and worked out a lot of details for the Upcoming Run as well as overall RFTW policy and initiatives.  We have finalized MOST of our preparations and only have a few minor details to work out.
Our State Coordinators are doing a fantastic job as always!
I am going to address quite a few things this newsletter (some repeats) and ask for your patience and that you read the WHOLE THING so you are getting the most up to date answers to the many questions you may have.

Pre-Paid Fuel
We are doing this again this year and it will be Pro-rated depending on your start and stop point. This will be based on the approximate ACTUAL COST of the non-donated fuel stops. So, this means I will not have a cost for you until the end of April. We will only be accepting Cash for the sticker beginning in Ontario.

FNG ride into Arlington
As you may have heard, we will have a very limited number of motorcycles allowed to ride as a group into Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday the 25th of May. We are still working on a fair and equitable way to determine WHO will be riding the (Roughly 20) motorcycles from Central Route allowed to go. It will likely be based on several factors (listed below).

  1. Distance traveled on the Run this year
  2. Date Registered (earlier the better)
  3. Ability to carry a passenger on the bike with you. (double the number of people that can attend)
  4. Luck

Ride into Riverside National Cemetery
(Copied from the President’s Message).   As you may have seen in a FB post, Carol is working on the possibility of riders going to the March AFB museum following the ride the Riverside National Cemetery. This is a Tuesday event, with KSU tentatively scheduled for 0815 from the Elks Club. The Elks will be serving breakfast so our riders can stage, eat, and leave from the same location. Right now, the cost of entrance to the museum is $10, but Blaze is trying to get that lifted. If you are interested in going to the museum, please email Carol at carollolmstead@ymail.com so she can provide a head count. Rumor has it that the museum is planning to rope off a parking area for us.

You must be registered and CHECKED IN to go on this ride, so get to Ontario and get Checked In on Monday the 13th.

Registration
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE RUN! We need you to register as early as possible so we can plan for Meals, Hotel needs, Fuel stops, staging, etc..  Are you not sure if you are coming? If you are committed and are coming, get registered. Help our teams get the information they need to plan for a successful Run.

REGISTER HERE.

 

Fundraiser
We will be doing a 50/50 draw in advance of May. Proceeds will go to The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center in Angel Fire NM.

https://veteranswellnessandhealing.org/

Donations made through the RFTW website and Earmarked for Central Route 50/50 will receive the following entries based on donation amount. You can also Zelle the donation to Central.Route@Rftw.us  and note that it is for the 50/50. If you don’t designate the donation as Central Route 50/50, you will NOT BE ENTERED.

$25 gets one entry
$50 gets 3 Entries
100 gets 7 Entries
The Largest Donor overall will get 2 extra entries into the drawing.
PHOTO OF HOW TO DESIGNATE THE FUNDS on the Donation Page Below.

Cut off for this fundraiser will be April 25th. A drawing will be held in Ontario CA. If you are not present we will either send the Money to you via Zelle or a check. We will notify the winner and ask for their preference at that point.

 

Communications
The initial testing of the GMRS radios is coming along well. A few (minor) glitches have been identified and we are figuring out workarounds. Thank you to Harlan and Kirk Olson and a few others in Colorado (including riders from other Routes) for taking the time to figure out this new system that is a much less expensive, easier to procure and BETTER way to communicate going down the road. If you are in leadership (Pack leadership especially) I encourage you to look into the system we will be testing and participate in the test this year. Advance teams will not necessarily be involved in the testing this year, as they tend to be out ahead of the pack anyway. More information can be found in the newsletter from early January. Link is below.

January Newsletter #1

Below is the link for the Survey form for Pack leadership that plans on assisting in the test.
Survey

Important Links
For any questions you may have, check out our FAQs first.  Then your next level of inquiry can be
directed to your platoon leadership or team leaders of the team you have a question about. We’ve got a strong cadre of leadership in the Pack Platoons and they are a great source of information, as is our FNG Liaison, Bernadette “Flat Tire” Staples, for our first-timers. All contact information is available in the Central Route Hub on the RFTW website.  Additionally, familiarize yourself with our Rider Code of Conduct.

 

Upcoming Meetings


FNG ZOOM
We are having an FNG zoom meeting on Monday the 11th of March (time below).
1:00 PM Hawaii Time
4:00 PM CA time
5;00 PM Mountain time
6;00 PM Central time
7;00 PM Eastern time

The zoom invitation will be sent out on Saturday the 9th of March to all REGISTERED FNGs as of that day and Route Leadership, so if you have not registered yet you need to. Please note that in order to keep the meeting manageable, we will be following similar Protocol to what was used for the BOD Town Hall meetings.

All attendees are asked to remain Muted, unless asked by the Moderator (Me) or the ARC, to speak.
Questions should be addressed via the chat function and will be answered in the order they are received.
When the invitation is sent out it will have a brief agenda in the email as well so you will know what we plan to cover and have questions ready.

 

CENTRAL ROUTE TOWN HALL
We will be having a Central Route specific Town Hall meeting on the 26th of March at the below listed times.
1:00 PM Hawaii Time
4:00 PM CA time
5;00 PM Mountain time
6;00 PM Central time
7;00 PM Eastern time

The zoom invitation will be sent out on Saturday the 23rd of March to all REGISTERED personnel as of that day, so if you have not registered yet you need to. Please note that in order to keep the meeting manageable, we will be following similar Protocol to what was used for the BOD Town Hall meetings.
All attendees are asked to remain Muted, unless asked by the Moderator (Me) or the ARC, to speak.
Questions should be addressed via the chat function and will be answered in the order they are received.
When the invitation is sent out it will have a brief agenda in the email as well so you will know what we plan to cover and have questions ready.

CENTRAL ROUTE Communications Zoom
We will be having a zoom meeting on the 29th of March at the below listed times to discuss the GMRS Radio System Central Route will be trying out this year. The invite will go out in a separate newsletter as we get closer to the date..
1:00 PM Hawaii Time
4:00 PM CA time
5;00 PM Mountain time
6;00 PM Central time
7;00 PM Eastern time

Please note that in order to keep the meeting manageable, we will be following similar Protocol to what was used for the BOD Town Hall meetings.

All attendees are asked to remain Muted, unless asked by the Moderator (Me) or the ARC, to speak.
Questions should be addressed via the chat function and will be answered in the order they are received.
When the invitation is sent out it will have a brief agenda in the email as well so you will know what we plan to cover and have questions ready.

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President’s Message – March 2024

Run for the Wall

And just like that, it is March.

Ontario and KSU for our Mission is rapidly approaching. I hope the weather in your location is conducive to riding and preparing for the Run. RFTW teams are working hard to finish planning for Run XXXIV. May is just around the corner, and we continue work on Run XXXV. Our incredibly dedicated SCs are scrambling to tie up last-minute details for this year’s Run; RCs are doing their magic; Purchasing is working on the supplies necessary to make the Run a success. Many riders are prepping themselves for the Run. Riding this mission takes a lot out of you and requires attention and pre-ride preparation so one can safely complete the mission. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET READY FOR MAY? I urge you to take the time to go over the myriad of details associated with riding this year’s Mission. Do not forget to look at your prescription meds and ensure you will have a sufficient supply to get you through the Run!!

There are some upcoming things that will certainly spark interest among our riders. I don’t want to release many of the details as they are not yet final but stay tuned for more information soon. One of the things I will release is that the BoD composition is changing. We are adding a Director of Social Media and a Director of Special Projects. The social media position will be advertised very soon, and the special projects position will be advertised shortly.

As a reminder, if you would like to work sales on the Midway merchandise trailer, please send Alan an email at merchandise@rftw.us. We are still one person short of our preferred two-person team. You may make a significant difference!

As we go through the year, there are dates that carry significant meaning to our riders and our Mission.  March 20th (some say March 19th) is the 21st anniversary of the start of Iraqi Freedom, as the US and coalition forces began the move to oust Saddam Hussein and take down the Iraqi government. 21 years. March 29th is the 49th anniversary of the day the last combat troops left Vietnam. Anniversaries that are 28 years apart, yet both eras impact so many of our riders. Different generations, different circumstances forever linked by commonality of purpose; to answer the call of our country. I ask that each of us work to ensure we are focusing on our Mission and that we deliberately and decisively work towards providing a healing, inclusive environment.

If you need a reminder of why we ride, I urge you to take some time and review the latest documentary on RFTW at All The Way. The Story of Run For The Wall. (youtube.com). This epitomizes WHY we ride. I realize time changes many things, but when was the last time you wondered if any of our MIA are still alive? When was the last time you thought about the suffering many of our POWs endured? When is the last time you truly reflected on what you bring to our Mission?

As you may have seen in a FB post, Carol is working on the possibility of riders going to the March AFB museum following the ride the Riverside National Cemetery. This is a Tuesday event, with KSU tentatively scheduled for 0815 from the Elks Club. The Elks will be serving breakfast so our riders can stage, eat, and leave from the same location. Right now, the cost of entrance to the museum is $10, but Blaze is trying to get that lifted. If you are interested in going to the museum, please email Carol at carollolmstead@ymail.com so she can provide a head count. Rumor has it that the museum is planning to rope off a parking area for us.

As you know so well, it takes thousands of volunteers to ensure our Mission executes as planned. One of the societal impacts affecting the Run is that we are not getting as many qualified volunteers as in the past. Costs of taking part in the Run have risen, many riders take precious vacation time to participate, and critical positions may be left unfilled. A perfect example is our difficulty in putting together a two-person team for sales on the Midway merchandise trailer. Merchandise sales are a critical part of RFTW finances. Registration fees help, but quite frankly, they do not pay the bills. In 2022, we lost $17,000; in 2023 we were able to reduce losses to $10,000. While we are not looking to make a profit, we cannot continue to sustain these types of losses. To that end, the Executive BoD is going to be taking a hard look at everything that involves money. We already reduced our two annual Face-to-Face meetings to one; we just completed our first Winter Face-to-Face as a weekend Zoom meeting marathon on both Saturday and Sunday. It seemed to work very well; Saturday was quite a marathon for the Exec BoD, Sunday we were able to work through all the agenda items without a hitch. More to follow on all of this as we look at our business practices.

If you are still on the fence and have not yet registered, we ask that you do so as soon as possible. Our State Coordinators are working hard to finalize plans and rely on a pre-Run head count to ensure we can care for everyone’s needs. Our Day Rider registration process kicked in on 1 February, so please visit https://rftw.us/rftw-registration for all the details.

Finally, just in case you have heard rumors, we put together a team of experienced RFTW riders to take a hard look at everything RFTW. Nothing is sacred. We have 3+ years of rider data and are beginning to see certain trends within our program. We are also reviewing AARs from the past 3 years, along with rider’s comments. You may see a survey or two come out, and if so, please ensure you respond. Your response will help immensely. Periodically, the study team will make recommendations to the BoD for discussions and decisions on implementing adjustments to the program. If you have specific suggestions on ways to improve the Run, please complete a Contact form. We would love to hear from you. More to follow as this too progresses.

No one 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 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 or chat with a qualified responder.

Let us 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 – CR and Sandbox Road Guard
2020 – Present – RFTW BoD member

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2024 Southern Route Say Their Names Newsletter

This is the 4th Edition of the Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, Never Forget!

USN LCDR Dennis S. Pike – MIA 3/23/1972 – Laos

LCDR Dennis S. Pike’s story is one of determination, love, and unwavering hope. Born and raised in Arizona to hard-working parents, Dennis developed a passion for flight as he grew up in the shadow of the aircraft flying in and out of Luke AFB. His childhood dreams were filled with visions of soaring through the skies, but his journey to the cockpit was not without obstacles.

Dennis met his future bride when they were only 13. Both graduated with honors and married shortly after graduation. Dennis chased his dream of flying as he attended ASU as the Air Force Cadet Colonel. His dreams of flying seemed dashed when he failed the flight physical due to a color deficiency. He studied every color vision test book used by the military and practiced standing at attention compressing his spine so he could meet the Navy height standards of 6’1” as he was 6’2”. Finally, he was accepted through an inter-service transfer and attended flight school, passing at the top of the class.

Dennis was a funny and outgoing man, with a loving wife and three children Denise, aged 11; Vincent aged 9, and Shannon aged 2. He played seven different musical instruments and enjoyed singing and entertaining.

LCDR Pike was assigned to Attack Squadron 192, known as the Golden Dragons, aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63).

On March 23, 1972, he was the pilot of an A-7E Corsair II (bureau number 157520, call sign “Jury 307”) that took off from the USS Kitty Hawk on a night strike mission against targets of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos.

After his first pass over the target, LCDR Pike radioed his wingman that he had either been hit by anti-aircraft artillery fire or was experiencing engine trouble. LCDR Pike was forced to eject over Laos, due to a .65 Cent spacer in the engine which had melted, causing oil pressure to fail. His last transmission to his Company Commander, Robert Taylor was, “I have to leave it, oil pressure problems.”

His wingman observed a cloud of white smoke and shiny particles in the moonlight, and an object tumbling through the air that he thought was LCDR Pike’s ejection seat, but no parachute was sighted. The loss location was over rugged jungle-covered mountains, southwest of the Lao/South Vietnamese border, which made search and recovery efforts difficult. LCDR Pike was not located following the incident, and he remains unaccounted-for.

On March 23, 1972, CDR Robert Taylor was the commanding officer of the KITTY HAWK based Attack Squadron 192 and recalls the March 23 mission:

“We were on a mission just south of the DMZ,” remembers Taylor. “Government forces were being overrun by the Viet Cong, and a T-28 with an American
pilot and Vietnamese observer also went down. We were on target for about forty minutes and finally had to leave. I watched Pike disappear on the way out, and that scene, those ten or fifteen seconds, are embedded in my mind, lived over and over. I was about a mile-and-a-half behind him, saw the smoke come out of his tailpipe and called him up asking if there were any problems. He replied, ‘Yeah, I’ve got some oil pressure problems.’ We were only about twenty miles inside of Laos, and I told him to take a heading toward Da Nang. He rolled out and made the turn from southwest all the way around to the east at five thousand feet. I told him, ‘If you pass three thousand feet and don’t have anything left, then [get] out.’ He replied, ‘Roger that,’ followed by an ‘Uh oh, there goes the engine. Well, see you guys later.'” Pike indicated that he had to eject.

Taylor saw the canopy shatter and a black object came out. Taylor and his wingman saw the ejection but lost visual contact. Taylor is certain that something left the airplane.

LCDR Pike was not located following the incident, and he remains unaccounted-for.

Four days prior to Denny Pike’s aircraft failing, another A7 had failed, but just after it had launched from the carrier. The pilot was recovered. There were questions at that time as to whether to ground the aircraft, but it was kept in the air. This was the 3rd incident of its kind dealing with the A7’s engine.

After LCDR Pike’s aircraft failed, the A7 was grounded. But the North Vietnamese were staging an invasion on the south, and to ground the A7 meant to essentially ground the entire strike force, and there was uncertainty as to the exact cause of the A7 accidents. It was finally concluded that the engine problems had been caused by foreign object damage and the A7 was airborne once more.

On March 24, 1972, the black cars showed up at the Pike home. Lou Ann refused to open the door at first, but when the officers were clear that Dennis was not dead, just MIA, she allowed them in. They told her that in such cases where there was so little information to go on, anything could have happened and for all, they knew he could be a POW by now. Her job was to keep the faith, hope for the best, and continue with life as usual.

Little information has been discovered since this incident. However, conflicting information continues to be provided from various sources. The National Security Agency (NSA) reported LCDR Pikes’ name associated with a list of 21 other men, thought to have been transferred to Russia in 1974. In 2009 a VFA-192 helmet was located by the JTFA, but the villagers were not eager to part with the artifact. LCDR Pike was the only member of that squadron lost in the area.

Of 600 American servicemen lost in Laos during our military involvement in Southeast Asia, not one was released when the war ended. The Pathet Lao insisted that Americans held in Laos would be released from Laos, but the U.S. did not include them in peace agreements reached in Paris in 1973.

Since the wars end, thousands of reports relating to Americans prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government. The official policy is that no conclusive proof has been obtained that is current or specific enough to act upon. Detractors of this policy say conclusive proof is in hand, but that the willingness or ability to rescue these prisoners does not exist.

Today, Lieutenant Commander Pike is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

LCDR Pikes’ youngest daughter is RFTW’s very own Shannon Spake!

In January of 2019, the daughters, Denise, and Shannon made the trip to Laos in hopes of reaching their father’s ejection site that had been located in 2015. Despite meticulous planning and fundraising efforts, their expedition was thwarted by a washed-out road, just miles away from their destination. Undeterred, they carried with them a vial of Arizona dirt to honor their father’s memory and sought to connect with locals in search of any information or stories about the American pilot who may have perished on their mountain.

DPAA resurveyed the area in November of 2019 and hoped to excavate it in March of 2020. But Covid delayed those efforts. Ultimately, in September of 2021, they were able to excavate and planned to return to complete the job sometime this year.

By the time this newsletter is posted, Shannon will be enroute back to Laos with two other MIA Daughters and a KIA Son, all visiting their fathers’ suspected impact sites. If you would like to support Shannon via Venmo at https://venmo.com/u/Shannon-Spake-1 or contact her directly for additional details.

This is why we ride!

Live a Life worthy of their Sacrifice!

Darin “Lurch” Koch