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RFTW SandBox RC Newsletter – JUN 2021 – SB Supporter Run/Safe on Deck Edition

RFTW XXXII SB RC Newsletter Header

Howdy from Texas!

Back in the day when I was flying as a Tomcat RIO, I was quite aware of the risks and rewards or my profession – and I had great appreciation and respect for both.  I knew family back home was aware of them too so whenever flying from home base or around the country, one of my first priorities was to contact home with a “Safe on Deck” call.  Over the course of the past two weeks, while I traveled on what I called the SB Supporter Run, I made and received many of those calls – made them back home and to many of my RFTW Family members who knew I was traveling and received just as many from those who knew I was following their own journey.

CDR Joe “Rug” Burns & LT Billie “Bugs” Dunlap after the last ever
Navy Reserve F-14 Tomcat Trap, completed aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), 26JUL1998

The purpose of my SB Supporter Run was a personal mission to visit as many of our SandBox Route supporters as possible to ensure they also know that we as an organization and as a group of individual motivated patriots are Safe on Deck.  That our dedication to the RFTW Mission is intact and strong and that we appreciate their continued patience and support.  Along the Run, I met with Service Station Managers, Motorcycle Dealership Owners, Police Chiefs and Officers, County Sheriffs, Restaurant Managers, VFW Post Directors and many others to present them with a framed Certificate of Appreciation or Plaque and to ensure that they knew we were not slowing down or pulling back.  Every single one of the folks with whom I met shared that same dedication to supporting the Run and its Mission  next year.  In meeting with city leaders, I discovered that they too are ready to break out of the shell in which we’ve been held for well over a year now and they see our Mission as a way to reaffirm to themselves and their communities that the Patriotic American Spirit remains strong and is worth demonstrating in full force.

My post-mission report to you, our loyal and dedicated SandBox Rider is that our Run is Strong, our Mission is Steadfast, and our Route will be EPIC!

I’d like to thank my exceptional brother and long-time friend, Sam “Polar Bear” Warner who rode with me and helped escort the SandBox Route Plaque across almost 4000 miles including our SandBox Route through all weather before laying it at the Middle East Conflicts Wall on Memorial Day.  He was able to post real time updates on our trip while giving me top-cover to quietly travel on this Mission to support our Route.  I’d also like to thank Tom “Kid” Schultz and Brandon “Five-O” McCray for riding with me and setting up some very important meetings along the way, not to mention some awesome back roads during a side-trip in Ohio.

Bugs, Five-O and Polar Bear on US 22 in Ohio – Remembering the 22

Now for the good stuff…  On Tuesday, 06 JUL 2021 at 7pm Central, we’ll have our next SandBox Route Virtual Quarterly Briefing.  At this briefing, I plan to discuss my travels along the route, review some of the details resulting from my meetings and reveal some of the plans now in work to make this Mission an event that will touch the hearts and minds of everyone along the way.  Yes, there will be photos.

So, the annual countdown to May has begun as I have received my first “Is it May yet?” from another close brother, Richard “Rags” Getchell shortly after we said our farewells at the MECW on Memorial Day.  On day at a time, one month at a time and before you know it, we’ll be standing tall for KSU from DC on 29MAY22.  For now, I’ll look forward to seeing you all online on 06JUL – ZOOM Link details will follow later.  Until then, “Safe on Deck” calls are appropriate and always welcome!

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so no matter where you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

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RFTW XXXII Sand Box Route Coordinator
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Midway Route Coordinator – Newsletter- June 2021 #2

Greetings RFTW family!

I am writing today concerning our “Sunbright Veterans Tour of Honor” reunion in Tennessee. As of this time, we only have about 20 people registered and have hotel rooms booked. 

I understand that many of you made “Memorial Day” rides and have been on the road for many days.  Some of you have just made it back home.  The reunion is right around the corner and July 2nd will be here before we know it.  For some, this may be too much too soon.  I understand.  Unfortunately, If we do not have big enough interest in the July 2nd reunion, we will need to cancel.   We feel that having a small showing for an RFTW reunion would do more damage to our efforts and reputation in Tennessee than not having one.  It has taken many years of efforts to establish the amazing support we now have in Tennessee.  We cannot tap into these resources and show up with a handful of people.  Let me give you some information on the support we have lined up by our Tennessee State Coordinators:

  • Memphis Sherriff Department will be escorting us. They are planning on having more bikes to support us than we have registered right now!
  • Honor guard for Parkers Crossroad Memorial
  • Moonshine Harley Davidson is opening just to support us.  They were scheduled to be closed.
  • Commissioner of Veterans Services, State Representatives and Senators, US Congressman to attend and speak in Cookeville.
  • Cookeville, going all out feeding us and lining up entertainment.
  • Escorts in and out of the 2nd largest firework show in TN.
  • US Congressman to attend Sunbright Veterans Memorial

Our TN State and Assistant Coordinators have worked hard to maintain RFTW visibility and support in Tennessee.  We certainly do not want a poor showing to impact our future support.

If you are planning on attending the reunion, please register and book your hotel rooms ASAP.  If we do not have a minimum of 50 bikes confirmed for the reunion by June 15th, we will be forced to cancel.

The link to register is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSddvZrKfLGD_n5nMunmyvPROznSUU6srGHcnpcjujUiB24Q/viewform

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

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Midway Route Coordinator- Newsletter- June 2021

Greetings RFTW family!

Once again, this year’s Memorial Day was not the same without being with my RFTW family and communities that support our routes. However, RFTW is always in my heart and Memorial Day is still a special day no matter where you are. I know that all of my RFTW family will Never Forget those who have given their all for our country and our freedom. Many of you made your own rides and I appreciate all of you carrying on our mission. I hope you had great trips and made it home safe.

Now that we are in June, I want to remind everyone about our All routes reunion hosted by Midway. It will be here before you know it. I encourage all of you to register and book your hotels ASAP. July 2nd is right around the corner and your early registration will help our planning efforts. We are calling this years reunion in Tennessee the “Sunbright Vets Memorial Tour of Honor” Here is the link on our website: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSddvZrKfLGD_n5nMunmyvPROznSUU6srGHcnpcjujUiB24Q/viewform

I was looking at the Midway Hub on the RFTW.US website and saw how the info could be confusing. There is tab that says “tour of Tennessee reunion information”. I will ask for that tab to be hid because that was the information for last years reunion! This years information is under the “Sunbright Vets Memorial Tour of Honor” tab. I apologize for any confusion that has caused. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone there! Our Tennessee State and Assistant Coordinators have put together a great reunion plan for us.

It soon will be time to focus on our plans for our 2022 route. Our Midway ARC, Jerry Wilkins and I will be reaching out to our leadership and support teams in the near future. The first thing we need to do for our planning for 2022 is to make sure we have our teams in place. We truly hope that everyone will be returning to their positions for our 2022 route. We would like to have all positions confirmed ASAP.

I appreciate all of the efforts of our Midway team. I know a lot of work has been done over the last two years and it has been very disappointing that we have not been able to implement our plans for the route. I m so thankful for all of you and hope that you will stick with us another year and make our route the best it can be for 2022.

Hope to see you all at the reunion and may God continue to bless America!

Sincerely,

Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

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Midway Route Coordinator – Newsletter- May 2021

Greetings RFTW family,
I wish you all a respectful and heartfelt Memorial Day.

Cory Dugas - Back

I dedicate this newsletter to all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country, and to my RFTW family members who, to this day, still struggle with the loss of their brothers/sisters who they served with.
Please bare with me as I do so through my selfish eyes as a father of a US Marine who served in the 2/8 in Iraq and Afghanistan and lost 16 of his brothers. My son Cory Dugas’ memorial back tattoo is pictured on the left. More work has been done since this picture. However, after all these years, it is still incomplete. The images of the 16 faces of his lost brothers continues to be worked on. His tribute should be completed soon.

Many of you may have seen the trip out west that some of our RFTW people and I just got home from. I was thrilled that I got to visit the memorial at Angle Fire for the first time. Really made our “Memorial Day” trip special.

I want to also dedicate this newsletter to two very special Marines to me. I carry their pictures and story with me on my bike 365 days a year. These two Marines are Cpl Johnathan Yale, USMC 2/8 and Cpl Jordan Haerter USMC 1/9.
These two young heroes were with my son in Al Anbar Province, Iraq when a terrorist bomber attack the camp. Jonathan and Jordan, of the now famous 6 seconds story, were at the gate and lost their lives stopping the truck rushing towards them. They saved my sons life as well as about 50 other Marines. It is because of their sacrifice and heroic actions as Marines, that I have my son today! They gave their lives so others may live. I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!

I know many of you have fought along side heroes like Jonathan and Jordan. My prayers are that they may be reaping their rewards for eternity in Heaven because they have already lived in hell. Also, for all of you to somehow be comforted in your grief and loss. I am so grateful for all who have served but today, we remember those who gave all. May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.

I will send out another newsletter shortly with updates and reminders about our upcoming Tennessee reunion in July. However, I felt it was appropriate for this newsletter and dedication to stand on its own.

Have I told you lately?………………….. I love and miss my RFTW family!

Honor, Hope and Healing

Sincerely,
Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

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May 2021 Central Route Coordinator News

Hello Central Route Riders.

I apologize for not writing an update for April 2021. There was no news but bad news. It is strange to be sitting at home the day before we all should have been leaving for Washington DC. The good thing about being in this dark depression for the last year or so, is that now we actually have some good news.

The Covid restrictions seem to be rapidly lifting across a good part of our country. Of course, the hope is that by May 2022, all of those restrictions will be in our rear view mirror. The Pentagon refused AMVETS’ permit for parking for the Rolling to Remember Parade, formerly known as Rolling Thunder, but RFK Stadium agreed to parade participants staging there. Although RFTW will not have an official presence there, many individual riders are either on their way to Washington DC, or are making plans to visit.

I hope all of you had an opportunity to read Les Williams’ latest President’s Message (https://rftw.us/presidents-message-may-2021/).  He did an excellent job explaining that RFTW is not just a bunch of folks who get on their motorcycles and head east each year. As a benevolent organization, we raise money for veteran organizations and help support some of the schools in the areas we pass through. No one in the RFTW organization receives a paycheck. A lot of people donate a tremendous amount of time and effort to make RFTW the success that it is. Please take a moment to read Les’ message if you haven’t done so already.

In June we will have a change in the board. On behalf of Central Route and myself, I would like to personally thank Les Williams, Ken Ward, Don Burns, Ray Brammer, and Diane McKee for their years of service and dedication. This was an especially trying time, with the cancellations of 2020 and 2021, along with major bureaucratic obstacles.

I know many of you will be getting on your bikes in the upcoming weeks. If you are wearing your RFTW vests, you are representing all of us. Do us proud. As my sailor friends say, “Fair Winds and Following Seas.”

Looking forward to a 2022 run.

Stay Safe. God Bless the United States of America.

Ride safely and stay well. God Bless the United States of America.

Tom (Boomps) Miller
Run for the Wall
Central Route Coordinator

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Southern Route Coordinator News – May 2021

RFTW XXXII 2021 RC Newsletter

May, 2021

 

Greetings from the Battle Born State of NV,

Well, It’s MAY!  These last 2 years we have battled with this pandemic and tried to Stay Positive with the hope that soon we would see it in our rear-view mirrors.  As in most battles, no one gets out without a scratch and many wounds are not visible.  LOVE of our God, Country and Family along with the HOPE that better days are ahead is what keeps us going.

The Run For The Wall Family Bond is Strong.  None of our Family should ever feel alone.  With Family often comes tragedy.  On May 12th Fred Marshall, the husband to Melissa “Angel” Marshall and Father to Jake passed away after a prolonged illness. Fred spent 76 days in the hospital in intensive care and hospice with very intense individual care and racked up quite a bill.  If you would like to send donations towards those bills, you can send direct to Melissa, please at Melissa Marshall, 1730 Crowndale Dr, Sumter, SC 29150    Flowers are welcome although Melissa would prefer living plants as a living memory of Fred, send to her address. 

Melissa and her Mom Wendy “Nurse One” are the Dynamic Duo of our Medical Team.  Her Dad is Doug “Sgt Maj” Lyvere one of our elite Road Guards.

There is also a FB page – “Facebook Fundraiser”, Help for Melissa and Jake

There will also be “FredFest”, a memorial celebration to be held on Saturday June 5.  For any details, Please email Doug@lyvere.com

Though the “Run” was postponed, the Mission still goes on.  We are a benevolent organization and are continually promoting and fundraising for Veteran Causes.  Currently we are working on raising $25k which will be matched ($25k) by RFTW, which will be matched by another foundation for a total of $100k to Homes For Our Troops to build an adapted home for a severely wounded Veteran and his Family.  We are currently at about 31% of our goal.  For more details, see the latest RFTW  President’s Message 

RFTW Inc. does not have a large corporate office, or any corporate office or payroll, in fact.  But there are still expenses and bills that need to be paid.  Buying more Merch from the  Merchandise Shop  will help too.  

Confetti and I plan to be in Perryville, MO, Friday the 28th to pay our respects at the “Wall” there.  We hope to see many of you there also.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Positive

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President’s Message May 2021

President’s Message:

IT’S MAY!!!

With Memorial Day weekend coming in a few weeks, I am saddened that we cannot take our “One Mission – Four Routes” into Washington and collectively honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. I think I know you all will do your duty this Memorial Day to pay your respects – whether it’s in Washington, DC or in the thousands of cities and towns across America. I wish the very best for you all in this endeavor because patriotism and mission is enduring with our riders.

While you engage in ceremonies this month keep our mission close to your hearts:

“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.”

And travel safely….

Homes For Our Troops donations

Last month I mentioned that I would send out an early message to report on the Home For Our Troops fundraiser. Here it is:

The first month’s donation totals were very impressive and thank you to everyone who has participated so far. During April $3,700 was donated via direct mail to our treasurer Ken Ward. Additionally, $3,240 was donated through the Facebook campaign with an additional $665 through May 9th. Finally, there is a GE Matching donation for $100 that will be received in August. So, the total is now $7,705. When the home we sponsor is finished, we will be invited to the opening. I hope we have a large response from our riders for this event.

 

Congratulations on a great first month of this mission. We have reached 31 percent of the $25,000 goal! Already during this new donation month, I have been told by riders who schedule monthly RFTW breakfast/lunch groups that they have been passing around a hat as a way of aiding this great mission. To learn more about Homes For Our Troops and why we chose this mission, click on the video here.

At the end of last month, you may have noticed, the Facebook fundraiser totals disappeared and another appeared anew with a lower amount of donations at the end of April. It seems Facebook only allows these fundraisers to run for a month at a time. So, our communications director Nick Hentges simply posted another fundraiser that started at zero dollars for our second month. One reaction to this was disrespectful and disappointing as he opined, without the slightest idea of what he was talking about, that something nefarious was going on. As you all know, the rftw.us website has the phone numbers and email addresses of all board members, including this writer. Please feel free to call me or others with any questions before throwing firebombs on Facebook.

On another note…

Gary “Shepherd” Burd and M-25 has a planned mission (4CPR) to pray for this nation this summer starting in Blaine, Wash., on June 27 and traveling to the four corners of the Continental U.S., ending in the center of the nation in Lebanon, Kan. on July 22. The mission will run approximately 8,700 miles and details can be found in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqX1Bw0tP2s. Riders are invited to go all the way or pick up one or more legs. Shepherd can be reached at mailto:gburd@arn.net for further details and itinerary.

New BOD members and positions

Last night the BOD voted on new members and position changes.

Here are the results:

  • Dave Klemme, President
  • Jim Marshall, Chairman
  • Nick Hentges, Secretary
  • Jenny Ward, Treasurer
  • Ron King, Risk Management
  • Bill Clark, Merchandise
  • Ted Kapner, Public Relations/Communications
  • Joe Bookataub, Purchasing

John Staub will remain as director of operations.

One Mission – Four Routes.

Respectfully Submitted,
Les “Easy” Williams
RFTW BOD President

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Midway Route Coordinator- Newsletter #2 – April 2021

Greetings Run For the Wall Family!

I am please to announce that the plans for the All Routes Reunion, hosted by Midway have been completed and the information will be included in this newsletter. But first, I will take care of a little Midway business.

After discussing with our ARC and our Hawgwash fund raiser sponsor, it was decided that our Midway family will continue to send donations out even though our route was cancelled again this year.
$2,000 was sent to support Milan Elementary, another $2,000 to support Falcon Children’s Home and $1,000 to support Final Salute for our homeless women veterans. I thank all of you who supported our fundraising efforts.

As a reminder, our hotel raffle will be held on May 7th. The drawing for the $1,000 prize will be recorded and posted on our Facebook page. Good luck to everyone and thanks for purchasing your raffle tickets.

We are in need of an Assistant Arizona State Coordinator capable of taking care of things in the Lake Havasu area. if interested please contact me at ken.dugas@rftw.us.

Now let’s talk about the amazing plans for the Reunion! We will be calling this years event the “Sunbright Veterans Memorial Tour of Honor
A brief history of the Sunbright  Veterans Memorial. 
Sunbright, TN is a small rural  community in the Northeast corner of Morgan County. Mr. Charles Webb, a Vietnam Veteran, dreamed of the day Sunbright could properly honor the 830 Veterans of Sunbright. His dream of erecting a Veteran’s Memorial has taken thousands of countless hours of planning and fundraising. The challenge of erecting a worthy Memorial requires tens of  thousands of dollars which was very difficult for this small community. Mr. Webb with the support of his wife, Joann, began organizing activities and events to raise money doing bake sales, yard sales, and various fundraisers. As the community came together, enough money was raised to first erect an 80′ flagpole, followed by the brick monument and service branch flags. Although construction has progressed for several years the humble and dedicated persistence of Mr. Webb has continued to propel this Memorial to completion and dedication Memorial Day 2021.  The community is so excited and honored that our group will be going to their small, humble town to visit and pay our respects at their memorial.

This reunion will be a traveling reunion and we are in need of a volunteer to be our combination chase/hydration truck. If you can help, please contact our TN State Coordinator, Ron “Sky” King at ron.king@rftw.us.

The hotel blocks are open for reservations. The registration and agenda for the reunion is on our RFTW.US website under the Midway hub. The link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSddvZrKfLGD_n5nMunmyvPROznSUU6srGHcnpcjujUiB24Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

It is important to book your rooms and register for the reunion ASAP. The hotels will increase our blocks as long as rooms are available. We also need head counts for food and activities, so the sooner you register and make your reservations the better it is for our planning. With this said, please note that you will be able to register at the door should your planning require.

Hope to see as many of you as possible at all the reunions. Safe riding to all of you who will be on the road for Memorial Day.

Have I told you lately?……………..I love my RFTW family!
Ken “Six String” Dugas
Midway Route Coordinator

Hotel info and Reunion agenda below:

Sunbright Veterans Memorial Tour of HonorHosted by Midway Route
2 July – 5 July, 2021

Come join the fun in Tennessee over 4th July weekend.  We will be riding half way across the State of Tennessee.  Planned activities include two wreath laying ceremonies, Song Writers Night Out, Moonshine Harley Davidson Dealer party, and ride to Cookeville for dinner and 2nd largest firework show in Tennessee, and visit to Sunbright Veterans Memorial and Brushy Mountain Prison, open evenings in Memphis and Nashville, and – and – and.

Hotel reservation blocks are open and closes 5 June 2021.

Memphis, TN (2 July 2021)
Crown Plaza Memphis Downtown
300 N. Second Street., Memphis, TN 38103
Reservation Number: 1-901-525-1800 or 1-800-2CROWNE
Group Rate: $119.00 (Plus $3.00 Parking Per Room)
Group Name: Run-For-The-Wall Veterans Reunion 2021

Franklin, TN (3 July 2021)
Drury Plaza Hotel
1874 West McEwen Ave., Franklin, TN 37067
Reservation Number:  1-800-325-0720
Group Number:  2437401  (Rate $127.00)
Group Name:  Veteran’s Reunion, Run-For-The-Wall

Cookeville, TN (4 & 5 July 2021)
Country Inn & Suites
1151 S. Jefferson Ave., Cookeville, TN 38506
Reservation Number:  1-931-525-6668
Group Rate $85.00
Group Name:  Reunion Run-For-The-Wall

Agenda

Friday, 2 July
1500 – 1700           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
1730 – 1800          Rider Meeting Hotel Parking Lot
1800 – until           Dinner On Your Own Downtown Or Beale Street Music and Blues!

Saturday, 3 July
0700 – 0800           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
0700 – 0850          Hot Breakfast @ Hotel
0900 – 0915          St Mary’s Catholic Church West Parking Lot (Rider Meeting)
0915 – 0925          Blessing of the Bikes
0930 – 1100          I-40 to Exit 108 Parkers Crossroad, TN State Veterans Cemetery
1100 – 1130          Lay Wreath (693 Wildersville Road, Wildersville, TN)
1140 – 1250          Parkers Crossroads City Park (Subway $7.00 ea.) (1:10 Lunch Stop)
1300 – 1330          Fuel Stop Marathon (Gas and GO)
1330 – 1540          Ride to Host Hotel, Drury Plaza, Franklin, TN
1715 – 1800          Lobby Reception / Registration
1830 – 1855          Stage & Ride to Kimbro’s ($10.00 ea. cover / pay as you go bar & food)
1900 – until           Song Writers @ Kimbro’s Pickin Parlor, Franklin, TN or On Your Own

Sunday, 4 July 2020
0800 – 0830           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
0700 – 0900          Hot Breakfast @ Drury Plaza Hotel
1030 – 1045          Rider Meeting Hotel Parking Lot
1050 – 1100          Hotel Parking Stage for ride to Moonshine Harley Davidson
1100 – 1110          Ride to Moonshine Harley Davidson (Free Lunch) Or Lunch On Your Own
1100 – 1300          Moonshine HD (2:00 Lunch)
1300 – 1310          Stage for ride to Cookeville, TN
1310 – 1530           VA Hospital Visit Murfreesboro, TN (1:00 Visit)
1530 – 1700          Arrive Leslie Town Center, Cookeville
1700 – 1900          Reception and Dinner Cookeville (Auction for Sunbright Veterans Memorial)
1940 – until          Stage Hotel Parking Lot then Move to Fireworks & Return (LEO Escort)

Monday, 5 July 2020
0800 – 0815           Lobby Registration (Registration $35.00 ea)
0700 – 0830          Hot Breakfast @ Hotel
0845 – 0900          Hotel Parking Stage (Rider Meeting)
0900 – 1030          Arrive Sunbright Veterans Memorial
1030 – 1115           Memorial Service Wreath Laying (01:00)
1115 – 1155          Arrive Brushy Mountain Prison/Distillery/Gift Shop
1155 – 1450          Brushy Mountain Lunch/Self Guided Tour  ($25.00 ea.)
1500 – 1530          Arrive Petro’s Marathon (00:30 Gas and Go)
1530 – 1705          Arrive Host Hotel (End of Mission) Dinner On Your Own

            Note: All times Central Daylight Time (Sunbright and Brushy Mountain are on Eastern Daylight Time)

Cost (each)
Registration                                                                                    $35.00
Subway Lunch City Park 3 July                                                 $7.00
Kimbro’s Picking Parlor (Optional)                                        $10.00
Brushy Mountain Prison Tour and Lunch                             $25.00

                                                                   Total:                  $77.00 or $67.00ea.

Register at RFTW online or at any overnight location each morning at the Hotel Lobby Registration Table.

Pay via Check by 25 June 2021 mail to:
                             Pam Dier for RFTW Reunion
                             8454 Florida Blvd.
                             Denham Springs,  LA   70726

Pay via PayPal by 25 June 2021:
rftw.pamdier@gmail.com
                             Send it as: Friends and Family or PayPal will take a portion.

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RFTW SandBox RC Newsletter – APR 2021 – “HOW FAR?” Edition

RFTW XXXII SB RC Newsletter Header

Howdy from Texas!

HOW FAR’RE WE GOING? How many times have we heard that question  shouted out near the end of the morning briefing somewhere along the road?  Whenever I hear it in my mind, it’s Gunny’s voice and the resounding answer gives me a chill of anxious excitement as I know we’re about to saddle up for one more leg that will take us closer to another Mission Accomplished at The Wall.  Listen again and tell me you don’t hear his voice…  HOW FAR?  

ALL THE WAY!!!

Knowing that I’m about a year away from hearing that voice at an early morning brief somewhere along the Run can be disappointing.  But when I think about my RFTW Family, knowing that we are all still in this together gives me the encouragement I need to look past that feeling and onto the Mission that binds us.  Many of us are planning a trip next month to join up with that family in support of various opportunities to Continue the Mission – OUTSTANDING!  I look forward to crossing paths with many of you in my own travels.  We must all keep in mind that these efforts are in support of the MISSION while the Run waits another year – as we’ve discussed before, the Run is on the road, but the Mission is in your heart.

We have had great success and amazing discussions on the quarterly SandBox Route Virtual Briefings and plan to have one more before the end of May.  Please join me for the 4th SandBox Route Virtual Briefing for all Leadership and Riders this coming Tuesday night at 7pm Central for the next SandBox Route briefing on Zoom.  Your Route Leadership Team will once again be online with me to answer questions and discuss issues related to planning for the Run.  Details of the meeting and the Zoom link you’ll need are shown below.

SandBox Route Virtual Briefing

Tuesday, 04 MAY 2021 at 7pm Central

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89990730875?pwd=RWVGTWxwM0JrRDlwMjMrbm5KUlA3Zz09

Meeting ID: 899 9073 0875             Passcode: sandbox

(The link will be active at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts)

As always, I look forward to seeing you all as we continue to stand together from afar knowing that the bonds that unite us are so much stronger than the distance between us.  However, for this meeting I must insist on one ground rule…  Please avoid using this forum to discuss or coordinate personal ride or route planning for upcoming events later in the month.

Someone watching us assemble in DC for SandBox or in Ontario for the other Routes may look at our journey as a long haul across the country to destinations they have only dreamed of visiting.  Looking forward through the summer and into fall and winter, it may seem to us a long haul to our Run in May of 2022 but we all know it will be worth the wait.  Whether it’s distance or time, this familiar question will bring the same response from the resilient Veterans and Patriots who I call family.  Now – shoulders back, take a deep breath and literally shout out the answer like you mean it – it will make you feel closer to being there…

HOW FAR’RE WE GOING?

Remember, all roads lead to all roads so no matter where you go, TOGETHER WE RIDE!

WALL 2 WALL!

Bugs out!

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RFTW XXXII Sand Box Route Coordinator
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President’s Message April 2021

President’s Message:

New Info!

Here it is nearly the end of April and here in Western Colorado we haven’t seen too much rain so I guess the flowers will suffer in May. It’s been a very dry year for us and a snowy winter on the Front Range of Colorado. Thankfully it has snowed in the San Juan Mountains which will provide our farmers with ample irrigation water to grow their crops.

DDry weather has its upside in that we have been riding for over two months now. I ride with the American Legion Riders Post 73 in Montrose, Colo. We have made our theme for this year to bring continued awareness to the 22 a Day movement, helping to prevent the loss of veterans and active-duty military to suicide. Each of our rides support the 22 a Day theme with patches given to those who ride with us in support of this important mission – a mission many at RFTW share. 

HI VIZ LS BACK

Many of the ALR riders have purchased the new RFTW 22 long-sleeve shirts that fit perfectly with our mission. Ray Brammer, the RFTW merchandise director, designed the shirts and has them for sale in the RFTW store in long sleeve and short sleeve styles. Run For The Wall is developing a new patch in support of this mission which will be available in the store soon. Remember, 100 percent of the money RFTW raises goes toward bringing awareness to veteran and active-duty military issues.

I would be remiss to leave out Angie Uhler and Ed Holterman who have been advocates for this important mission to end veteran/military suicides. There are thousands of other products available on the Internet public domain supporting this cause. Thanks to all for stepping up to educate our citizens in the effort to end these deaths.

As we approach our first month of fund raising to help Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) build a home for a severely injured veteran, I want to thank those who have participated and encourage everyone to continue to help us reach our goal of $25,000. The $25,000 we raise will be matched by an additional $25,000, then that $50,000 will be matched by another foundation for a total of $100,000.

You may say this is a lofty goal and you would be correct but how many other veteran groups do you know who accomplish what Run For The Wall does?  Most of you have seen what these homes do for severely wounded veteran and family and because of that our riders and supporters have donated $5,300 or 21 percent of our goal as of April 25.

As you may know there are three pathways to donate to this worthy cause. Any one will work and riders and supporters have been using all three:

  1. rftw.us Donate button
  2. Checks mailed to RFTW Treasurer Ken “Catfish” Ward, 675-N Deis Drive, Unit #266, Fairfield, Ohio 45014
  3. Donations made through the RFTW Facebook fundraiser

The numbers I mentioned above are from the Facebook Fundraiser and the mail-in donations sent to Treasurer Ken “Catfish” Ward with HFOT in the memo line. Remember to make a notation on your check or RFTW Donation online that you want the money to go to Homes For Our Troops. We are looking at the donations already made to ensure they are going where you want. If you donated already but did not make a note on it for HFOT, drop Ken Ward an email.

I hope to have all the pathway donations for you next month. For now, I just want to say how impressed I am with you all for your generosity and devotion to our troops who are in need. With this effort I recalled vividly the money raised to help the folks of Houston, Texas after Hurricane Harvey destroyed thousands of homes. Moreover, the memories of an RFTW-wide effort to help buy winter clothing for the children of Rainelle, West Virginia, after a disastrous 500-year flood come to mind.

Then there are the memories from all the years of route donations given to needy school children along the way – help they need to succeed. Run For The Wall riders and supporters love America and her citizens.

And who could forget the help following the tornado in the Cookeville, Tenn., area. Midway Route Tennessee assistant state coordinator Ed Butler said he was honored to represent RFTW at a special recognition of our support earlier this month.

Then there are the memories from all the years of route donations given to needy school children along the way – help they need to succeed. Run For The Wall riders and supporters love America and her citizens.

I am humbled by all you do to help where you can and the gifts you bring to Run For The Wall. My sincere gratitude goes out to you all.

Respectfully Submitted,
Les “Easy” Williams
RFTW BOD President