After we arrive in Washington, D.C. and visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall), we offer a fourth Route, the "Sandbox Route", that goes "Wall to Wall" from DC to the Middle East Conflicts wall in Marseilles, IL
REGISTER
May 15-25, 2024 - CA to DC
May 26-28, 2024 - Sandbox
RFTW XXXIV
Run for The Wall® is an annual motorcycle ride from California to Washington DC.
The in-correct email address was provided for Ms. Fisher. The correct information for the Pen-Pal effort is below:
Cherry girl has been in contact with the Wilson Elementary Principal, Ashley Fisher, in Crawford, Tn for a Midway Pen Pal opportunity. Principal Fisher suggested the best way to start the pen pal process would be for any riders wishing to participate to email her directly at: afisher@oc-sd.com with the following information:
Name
Mailing Address
Rider request IE: Any certain grade level from 3 thru 8.
She (the Principal) would then select and assign a student who would correspond with the rider to initiate the ongoing communication.
I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO AND FOLLOW THE ABOVE PROCESS, PLEASE.
Hope all had a great Thanksgiving with both family and friends! I know Ruby and I did visiting with my 93 year old mother and other family members. Sorry for being late with this newsletter, but Ruby retired and we have moved into our fifth wheel and traveled from California to Mississippi SO FAR.
I need to remind all that our promotion for the Army/Navy game and the $1000.00 cash drawing is coming to a close on 1 December. MAKE YOUR DONATION—NOW–DON’T MISS OUT!!!
Registration is ongoing with 115 registered so far. I would encourage everyone to register before the fees increase on 1 Feb, 2024. Our FNG Coordinator, Roger Ford, is preparing a zoom meeting for the FNGs in early December. Be on the lookout for the announcement of the date, time, and zoom link on both the website and face book.
The hotels and itinerary will be finalized soon. There are several hotel changes so don’t try to get ahead of the publication for action. One example is a new host hotel in Shawnee!!! Itinerary changes are being solidified such as a new fuel stop in Memphis, Tx.
Cherry girl has been in contact with the Wilson Elementary Principal, Ashley Fisher, in Crawford, Tn for a Midway Pen Pal opportunity. Principal Fisher suggested the best way to start the pen pal process would be for any riders wishing to participate to email her directly at: afishefr@oc-sd.com with the following information:
Name
Mailing Address
Rider request IE: Any certain grade level from 3 thru 8.
She would then select and assign a student who would correspond with the rider to initiate the ongoing communication.
I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO AND FOLLOW THE ABOVE PROCESS, PLEASE.
It is with a heavy heart that we report the loss of one of our Midway Route Riders. “Curly” (Phoebe) is the daughter of one of our Road Guards, Tim “Big Bopper” Bannister. In 2022, “Bopper” and “Curly” rode the Midway Route and then also the Sandbox Route” together. Sharing RFTW with her Father was one of Curly’s “Bucket List” items. At the time of her FNG Run, she had been battling cancer for five years. It was an honor for us, the Midway Route Riders, to help her fulfill this dream. She brought so much joy to us all, and to see this father and daughter duo together was amazing.
But as much joy as we had sharing this dream with them, it meant even more to Curly and Bopper. In a letter that Tim shared with us this year, Curly wrote: “You will never know what a difference you made in my life. That week I felt like I was part of something much bigger than myself and my problems. I forgot about the cancer for the first time since I’d been diagnosed. Life’s worries melted away as I focused on the mission. I loved every moment of the journey and every one of you that was on it.”
The Midway Route would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Bannister Family, and we Thank them for allowing us to get to know and love such a courageous and loving Young Lady. We love our Midway Route Family!
I have been in contact with our Outreach Team Lead to discuss ways to recognize our fallen from year to year. There will be more to come on this IN UPCOMING NEWSLETTERS..
In closing, I would again ask you to register early, volunteer for a leadership position, and participate in the ongoing promotions. Without you and your participation our ability to make donations across our Route will not be possible!!
IS IT MAY YET???
DON “10-A-SEE” KING
Route Coordinator
RFTW-Midway Route
Help Run For The Wall Continue The Mission on Giving Tuesday!
Run For The Wall is taking part in the global 24-hour day of fundraising, Giving Tuesday, on Nov. 28, 2023! We hope you will join us to support the Run For The Wall Mission by donating to RFTW.
Share Your Generosity!
Share how you’re giving back on social media with hashtag #GivingTuesday #runforthewall and inspire others!
Run For The Wall® is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. All donations are tax deductible. Lookup the Run for the Wall® – GuideStar Profile for detailed information on our organization.
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!
Welcome to the 2nd Edition of theSay Their Names, Tell Their Stories, Never Forget newsletter!
If you have a story you’d like to have highlighted, please let me know. Thank you, Carol Olmstead, for the information contributing to both the 1st and 2nd Edition of this series.
The story behind the song “My Son” – October 1968.
“My Son” is a song written and recorded in October 1968 by American country music singer Jan Howard. It is among several songs recorded by country artists during this period that related to the Vietnam War. The song is based on a letter Howard wrote to her son, Jimmy, who was drafted into the war. Her second son (Carter Howard) and Bill Anderson inspired Howard to record it. Upon showing the letter to Owen Bradley, he insisted that she record it. Recording the song in a single take, it was released as a single in November 1968 as “My Son”. Howard received over 5,000 letters from soldiers and their families following its release. “They said they felt like it was for them,” Howard commented. The song was later nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards After. Listen HERE.
Howard had sent the song to her son after its release. Before he could write back, he was killed in battle. At the same time, “My Son” became a major hit on the country charts in the United States, reaching number 15 on the Billboard Country Chart. The recording later appeared on Howard’s 1969 self-titled studio album. Since its release, “My Son” has been considered among Howard’s signature songs. In later years, the song also has also been featured in documentaries that discuss the Vietnam War.
On October 30, 1968, at the age of 21, Corporal James Van “Jimmy” Howard was KIA by a landmine in Quang Nam, Vietnam. Carter Howard, Jimmy’s brother who was also serving in Vietnam, escorted Jimmy’s body home to Madison, TN.
Jan Howard subsequently released the album “For God and Country,” in memory of Jimmy. Her ongoing performances, appearances at Veterans Day parades, and visits to VA Hospitals and veterans’ homes helped her win the 1992 Tennessee Adjutant General’s Distinguished Patriot Medal, the 2005 Gold Medal of Merit Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the 2010 Eagle Rare Life Award for Leadership. But her commitment goes further back, to the conception of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
“Because of Jimmy’s death, I was contacted to help raise money for them,” she recalled. “At the request of Jan Scruggs (president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, who served in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade from 1969–1970 as a corporal), I went to Washington, D.C., along with several high-ranking military officers, to raise money for the fund. Radio stations gave their time, and I went around the country to do radiothons: People would call in and pledge money. What really touched my heart was when they pledged their Social Security checks. All of it, from hard-working people everywhere, went into building the Wall.”
Jan Howard passed away on March 28, 2020, at the age of 91. After Jimmy’s death, Jan truly Lived a Life Worthy of His Sacrifice!
Lyrics to “My Son”
My son my son I pray that you’ll come home to me my son my son
It seems only yesterday the most important thing on your mind
Was whether you’d make the baseball team or get the new school jacket
Like all the other kids had
And I remember how your eyes lighted up when you got your first rod and reel
For that big fishing trip just you and your dad
And I remember wiping the tears away when you hurt yourself on your sled
In those days it seems the house was filled with laughter and joy
Filled with your friends and they were all such good boys
And then came the day that you walked down the aisle
To receive that all important diploma
I was so proud, but I couldn’t believe that tall young man was my son my wonderful son
And then I remember the little girl that was always around kinda tagging after you
She’s not so little anymore but she’s still around who knows maybe someday
Then you received the call that I guess we knew would come someday
But it came so quick and now you’re so very far away
In the land that until a short time ago I didn’t even know was there
I know the time will pass you’ll be home again
But until that time my darling take care take special care
My son my son I pray that you’ll come home to me my son my son
Beginning Thanksgiving Day thru Cyber Monday, everything in the store will be 15% off. Yes, everything! In addition, free shipping will be reduced to a $50 minimum order from the current $100. All orders will ship with a free Eagle Oval patch, RFTW square logo patch and RFTW Logo Vinyl Sticker. Finally, any order over $100 will get a free Wall to Wall hat (while supplies last.)
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. Using the words from Lester Holt of NBC News, “Please take care of yourself, and each other” this holiday season.
Ride safe everyone.
Alan “Xbox” Steiner Director of Merchandise, RFTW
2023-2024 CR Photographer
2022 CR Plt 2 Tailgunner
2012 CR FNG https://rftw.us
As we enter this holiday season, I again ask that you keep our friends, families and veterans in your thoughts and prayers. These are difficult times for many of us, and we need to be there for one another.
The BoD is pleased to announce that Run for the Wall received the GuideStar.org Platinum rating of transparency,the highest rating awarded to a charitable organization!!
During a recent exchange both on social media (A letter from the Chairman – Communication is the Key! – Run For The Wall® (rftw.us)) and during our recent Zoom Town Hall meeting (RFTW BoD Town Hall Zoom – Video Recording Now Available – Run For The Wall®), there were suggestions that the BoD publish an annual report and other financial information. So that we are clear, the BoD has, each year, submitted the required IRS Form 990, and those forms have been publicly available on the IRS site (Charities and Nonprofits | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)) for years (in case you need it, our EIN is 36-4125559). However, in the interest of being as transparent as possible, we have been working with both GuideStar.org and CharityNavigator.org to update our profiles. In September, Charity Navigator changed how it rates charitable organizations, and is now using data and information exclusively from GuideStar.org along with information on the IRS Form 990. This profile data change happened without notice to us. Fortunately, we were already working on our Charity Navigator profile and were able to adjust our efforts. As of this update, the data exchange between GuideStar and Charity Navigator has not yet happened. However, GuideStar published our new profile (Run for the Wall® – GuideStar Profile).
I encourage you to visit GuideStar.org and review our profile. The ability to drill down into detailed information is quite impressive, and there are IRS Form 990’s dating back to 2001.
Rest assured, with the end of our fiscal year, we are working on our latest IRS Form 990. The new 990 will contain updated information that we believe will significantly improve our Charity Navigator profile. While we do not know how long it will take Charity Navigator to perform either update (GuideStar data pull and the new 990), all indications are that it will be at least 3 months following completion of the new 990. In the meantime, please visit GuideStar.org, and review our profile (Run for the Wall® – GuideStar Profile). We encourage each of you to share this profile with all potential contributors. We posted the GuideStar seal and a link to our GuideStar profile on our donation page at https://rftw.us/donate.
While you are at it, it may be beneficial to review the profile of other charities with which you are familiar, both on GuideStar and Charity Navigator.
Did you know that Run for the Wall has an active Benevolence program? Each year, organizations that meet our criteria and select individuals are eligible to apply. For further information and online applications and submittal instructions, please visit https://rftw.us/benevolence-fund/. 31 December is the deadline for applications. Awards are reviewed and considered during the Face-to-face meeting typically held in February each year.
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?
John “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
Sadly, as many of you know, RFTW and Central Route lost one of our own this month in a Motorcycle accident. Audrey Mangan was killed in a Motorcycle accident last week. A Memorial Service is scheduled for the 16th of December . Information for the Memorial Service is below.
From Audrey’s Mom, Jean Harrison.
“If it is on your heart to make a donation to some organization in Audrey’s name please do so to “Run For The Wall
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DONATION IS IN AUDREY’S Memory and should go to the Central Route Fund.
Also: to repost the service information. Jean requested to remember those not on social media and share service information with them, please.
Audrey’s service:
Dec 16, 2023. 10am
Presbyterian Church
702 Euclid Avenue Beaumont, CA.”
We are all at loss for words, but several have expressed their feelings and Love for Audrey on Audrey’s Facebook page and elsewhere. If you are on Facebook you can see some of the very poignant tributes to Audrey here.
Audrey was a true Patriot and an overall GOOD Person. She will be missed by all that knew her.
I will follow up in my next regular newsletter with any additions to the plans for the Memorial Service. Please keep Audrey’s Family in your thoughts and Prayers.
An early Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you are all able to spend time with family and loved ones! If you have no one to celebrate with and want to travel to Houston, Texas to celebrate with us, just let me know!
As many of you know, the RFTW BoD recently held a Town Hall meeting via Zoom. The meeting was very successful, and I want to thank all of you who took time out of your day to join the meeting. Yes, there were a few minor glitches that were ultimately worked out, but that just means the next one will be even better. If you missed the meeting or would like to review a recording of the meeting, please click here.
If you have any Route specific questions, please contact the Route Coordinator for the Route which you have questions about. If you have questions about RFTW in general, please reach out to any of the Route Leadership team members listed on each of the RFTW Route Hubs under RUN DETAILS at RFTW.US
The planning and preparation for the RFTW 2024 Mission does continue. But what is our mission? Run for the Wall is 1 Mission, 4 Routes! That 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.”
We must continue to Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, and Never Forget!
As the RFTW BoD, the Route Coordinators and their Leadership Teams continue to plan for RTFW 2024, now is the perfect time for you to ask yourself, “Why do I ride? Why do I take part in this Mission? What does this Mission mean to me?” Many of us have participated in this Mission for years and the saying Remember the Mission is very important. After years of participation, the Mission remains the same. To help remind us of why we ride, or to reinvigorate our spirit in the Mission, please take some time and watch the documentary “All The Way. The Story of Run For The Wall”. This documentary includes all 4 routes and riders and patriots from each Saying their names, Telling their Stories, and making sure we Never Forget!
We ride for comradery, we ride to remember, we ride to heal, we ride for our loved ones who can no longer ride. We ride trying to “Live a Life worthy of their Sacrifice”!
After our recent Town Hall meeting, I was sent an email from a 2023 FNG rider who stated that he had been inspired by the song on the UK RTTW website. This is a Run similar in mission to RFTW, but in the UK.
This rider wondered if there had ever been a song written commemorating our RFTW mission here in the U.S. Below are links to three different songs that have been written and sung in support of RFTW over the years. Please enjoy these songs and Remember the Mission!
RFTW Southern Route 2024 now has over 126 registered riders and participants with less than 190 days until KSU May 15, 2024. If you have not registered yet, please do so as soon as possible. Early registration ends on January 31, 2024. Beginning February 1, 2024, registration cost increases. Early registration helps us plan for our stops and Hotel accommodations etc. You can register HERE.
RFTW has a new updated Rider Code of Conduct that every rider and participant is required to read and adhere to. Please be respectful to all riders, participants, and supporters by adhering to this code of conduct while on the Run.
We are still looking for volunteers, especially Platoon Leadership positions. CB communications is required for these positions. It is my intention to attempt to have a dedicated Outreach Platoon Leadership Team (PL, APL, TG) which will be responsible for leading riders, along with the assigned Road Guards and Outreach Team members, on each individual Outreach mission. If you have not already volunteered for Platoon Leadership and have previously served in Platoon Leadership and would like to be a part of this dedicated Team, please submit a volunteer form. You can also submit a volunteer form if you are interested in volunteering for any other positions.
If you are interested in riding the Missing Man Formation, please send an email to Rick “Speedbump“ Shoaf at sardawg28@msn.com. Speedbump has volunteered to coordinate the Missing Man portion of our mission this year. If you see or talk with Rick, please thank him for taking on this important responsibility.
It is still not too late If you have not submitted an After-Action Report (AAR). Please submit reports by clicking here. RFTW leadership reads every AAR in an effort to make the Run the best it can possibly be, and we take the AAR’s seriously. Do not be alarmed, the BoD and the RC’s read all AAR’s but we do not respond directly to each AAR submission.
If you have a Memorial or Outreach Mission that the SR visits and that Memorial or Outreach Mission holds special meaning to you, I would like you to reach out to me! I’d like to highlight each of our Memorials and Outreach’s and share the stories of those remembered at each of them. I want us to Say Their Names, Tell their (and your) stories, and Never Forget!
Be on the lookout for the 2nd Edition of the Say Their Names Newsletter!
Leave no one behind does not end on the battlefield!
Veterans Lives Matter – Give a Damn!
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.
Coming Saturday, Veterans Day there is free shipping on any regular priced shirt order. This promotion does not apply to shirts that are on sale. In addition, there will be two new ladies’ shirts available. First is a yellow performance shirt identical to the men’s but in a ladies cut and V-neck. The second shirt is a new short sleeve V-neck in lilac with new graphics on the front.
The promotion will begin midnight (Pacific Time) this coming Saturday and last for one day only. Be sure to take advantage of this savings opportunity!
Alan “Xbox” Steiner Director of Merchandise, RFTW
2023-2024 CR Photographer
2022 CR Plt 2 Tailgunner
2012 CR FNG https://rftw.us
The RFTW Board of Directors Town Hall Zoom Call attendance had as many as 117 unique sign-ins with many more people in attendance. We had a brief participant limit glitch that unfortunately prevented some people from logging in – I sincerely apologize for that and hope that you’ll watch the video. Overall, the meeting was a great success with very direct presentations and discussions, followed by some very pointed questions. If your question wasn’t addressed or you would like more info, PLEASE write directly to one or more of the Board members and they will write you back. You can find the full list of BoD members along with their e-mail addresses here. We’re already looking forward to do another Town Hall sometime after the first of the year to keep you all informed on current preparation and planning.
The video recording for the Town Hall meeting is now available for viewing. It will be soon loaded onto our server so that it will remain available but until then I want to get it out quickly as possible for those who may have missed the meeting:
Feed back received so far has been overwhelmingly positive for the event. Your participation and interest is what made that meeting a success – just like it’s your efforts that make our Run a success. As was mentioned at the meeting, it’s the Board’s job to make it available, but it’s your job to to make it happen! Is it May yet?
Sincerely,
Billie “Bugs” Dunlap
Run For The Wall
Vice-President & Chairman of the Board
RFTW XXXII SandBox Route Coordinator
RFTW XXXI Southern Route Coordinator vice.president@rftw.us billie.dunlap@rftw.us TOGETHER WE RIDE!
REGISTRATION LOGIN: Due to security and privacy concerns there is NO ACCOUNT created when you register for Run for the Wall. Account logins are for merchandise purchase ONLY. Registration is a completely separate system and we do not offer any level of user access to this system. If you have a question regarding your registration or you need to make a change, please email [email protected].
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
John “Turkey” Staub
