May 28, 2016 - In DC

It is bitter sweet that I write this last post.

When we got to DC, my niece joined us.  If you watched the blog last year, Jamie rode with us.

Jamie and Nate.  Jamie is a little light.

Last night a few of us went into DC.  I have a few pics to share:

Saturday Morning.

 As we took the Metro to Arlington, we met this family.  If you look real close you will see the shirts talk about their relationship to the Vietnam veteran: wife, daughter, grandchild.  They are proud of him. So are we.

We also met this 96 year old  man that was at the Battle of Okinawa.  He was in the conflict at Iwo Jima. (Remember your history, this is where you see the picture of 5 soldier raising the flag). After several attempts from others, he created the first guidance nose cone with an infrared beam that successfully was capable of intercepting an ICBM from Russia. Also created a manufacturing process that eliminated resistance by turning the 30 foot tube horizontally to a vertical position which led to the process that is conceptually used today in created chips commonly used in cell phones. We did not even get his name.  Again another person I would have loved to spend more time with.

 Arlington Cemetery

Changing of the guard.

 Inspection of the weapon and soldier

Run For The Wall Wreath

We head out to the Vietnam Wall.

In true RFTW fashion, the bikes are lined up perfectly.

 Vietnam Wall

MISSION COMPLETE !!!!

Glen and Mike thanks for being with us every mile of the way.

Here are a few fun facts about our trip
 - Temperature ranged 32-97
 - We traveled in 14 states + Washington DC
 - From Loveland to Ontario, CA to DC back to  Loveland – 6140 miles
 - Thanks for all the thoughts and prayer, NO hail this year and very little rain.

We did not pay for meals on our mission. Every town we stayed in welcomed us, fed us, and prayed for our safety.  The support, encouragement, respect that the Americans have for the mission is incredible.  There is an unbelievable amount of time hanging banners, kids making bracelet, making pocket patches, hanging flags on the over passes, closing down streets, organizing volunteer for meal, setting up fuel stops.. and the list goes on.  

100s , 1000s of hours given by so many to make this happen: route coordinator, state coordinators, missing man coordinator, staging team, fuel team, hydration team, road guards, medical personel…..and the riders themselves.  The logistics to get that many people across the country, coordinated with all the towns for escorts, gas stops, parking, .... involve so many people.

Four of us crossed the country west ( Ken, Jenny, Larry and Jean) to get to CA. We came back across with a new family of 300+

We continually asked each other : what time is it? what time zone are we in? what day is it?  But there is one thing we knew the answer to: what was your mission?

Mission Statement of RFTW : 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.

Many of the common phrase you heard every day:

 - We Ride for those who can’t

 - You are not forgotten

 - Freedom is not free

 - Home of the free, because of the brave

 - Never forget

 - This is a mission , not a vacation

 - All gave some.. some gave all.

HOW FAR ARE WE GOING???  ------ ALL THE WAY

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

Thanks to Jenny and Ken Ward for letting us tag along on the way out  and the way back.

I especially want to thank my husband for such an incredible journey.

One more set of prayer please, and that is to get everyone home safely from DC, and continue to pray for all service men and women, past and present. 

Two more pics.  You  are getting to know me way to well.  This is the sunset as we got back to Ohio.

May 27, 2016 - Day 10 to DC --- Lewisburg, WV to Washington DC

Beautiful!!  Beautiful!!  Beautiful!!
What a day.  How lucky were we to get the weather we did for 10 day.  I have heard by many that they have never had so many good days like this on the Run.

Remember how the road guards get the rookies.  Well Brian got it good. Check this out.

Papa reads the men/women still not home, and asks an FNG to carry them to the wall.  There is never an issue finding  a Person.  In fact there are many wanting the opportunity.

Nice surprise to see Gunny here at the morning meeting.  He had a surprise for us.  The lady next to him was 13 when Gunny came thru Rainelle on the first year.  They camped at the park.  Also gave kids rides on their bikes. The kids had shirts for the men to sign and she still has her shirt today.  It is something she says she will never give up.

Gunny's parting words:  Ride for our Future.

This guy was on the chase vehicle.  This vehicle is amazing. We leave no man behind.  Just like the reason for this mission: we leave no man behind.

A sea of bike helments

 Gunny on far right.  Seeing us off this morning

Oh My Gosh did we get dense fog

 Then the sun came up and what a beautiful ride into DC.
The mountains in W. Virginia and Virginia are breath taking.  

 Check out the background behind Skip.

 Papa Smurf hands a road guard a lollipop.

Nate is working the pump where Jenny pulled up to.  

 Never ceases to  amaze me as to how short a time 300+ bikes can fill up.

 This gentleman loves to watch the bikes come in.  He has dementia.  He may get confused but he remembers and looks forward to the bikes coming in every year according to his daughter

The Shenandoah Harley dealer had lunch for us.

This is a sight I will truly miss.  

 Flags lowered to half mast for all those that have died.

"Blue's" father severed in WWII. He was going to ride "missing man" but let his son Bill ride it

Neat:  Red, White and Blue.

Here we are as we leave the Harley dealer

Here are pics of some of the road guards one more time.  This is only a few but they are the ones flying up and down past us all day long.  They stop the ramps, pull cars/trucks past us, direct traffic.

Thanks Guys/ Gals!!

Rocky

 Wild Bill

 Drops a Lot

 Diesel 

 Catfish

 9-mile

It is a shame there is a truck passing behind the 2 men on the right. If you can enlarge it, you will see all the men have on white gloves.  Also there are 3 signs:
1) Lord please tell him... he is more that just a name on the wall
2) Freedom isn't free.. support our troops everyday
3) All gave some.. some gave all.  Thank a veteran every day.

 We will have state troopers the last 80 miles all the way into DC.

Last fuel stop.  Our organized chaos comes to an end.  My hats off to the fuel team as they guide us thru and keep us all moving.

 Papa Smurf has the last meeting.  It is 97 degrees and 80 miles to go.  As we get closer to DC, the traffic gets more and more heavy. Be on your toes.  Remember we are still on a mission this is not a pleasure ride. We are not finished.

 As I see the miles to Arlington get lower and lower, I cannot help but think of our troops.

 The thought that many would love to have seen those miles and to come home.  There are still many MIA and POWs that we will need to bring home. Let us NEVER forget them.

 A few miles to go

 As we exit the ramp, there are many standing on the side, waving and cheering. Our Vietnam veterans never got that welcome home.  They we spit on, yelled at and looked down upon.  Many of them are in their late sixties and seventies.  It is never too late to tell them "Thank You".

Thank  them for serving for our freedom.

 As we stopped out bike, I see Skip standing like we saw many over the course of our trip. But look at the next series of pictures. The number of people grow.

We unite and stand strong. Supporting one another always.  And those that serve this country  make sure we will have that freedom today. Life is too short not to enjoy it. Be kind and help one another.

 We are Americans !!!

On the Run, we said the Pledge everyday.  I see this flag and have taken pictures of it all week. Every time I see it waving in the air, it is telling me  I am free.  And that right is protected by our men and women.  Let's continue to try and bring them all home.

Our Missions is almost over.  I will  have one more post tomorrow.