May 26, 2016 - Day 9 to DC --- Hurricane, WV to Lewisburg , WV

We wake to rain and temps about 65. Reluctantly we suit up in rain gear.  BUT by the time we get to breakfast about 4-5 miles away, the rain had just about stopped.  YEAH!!!!

This morning Boiler Maker is on a roll.  This is our last day before we get to the kids at Rainelle.

So let me give you a little back ground on this.  James "Gunny" Gregory started the Run with only a few bikers. The idea was to bring awareness to the POWs and MIAs.  It started with Vietnam vets in mind.  As he started across the country, Kansas veterans and bikers paid their way thru the toll booths.  In WV, the bikers had to pay.  So they decided to go around and take Hwy 60 through the mountains.  This led them to Rainelle.  It is a small town that opened up their doors to these bikers.

Last year Larry and I talked to a lady that is currently on the board of directors.  When the first riders came thru, she was a kindergartner teacher.  The principle at the time said let's take the kids out to meet them.  When she looked out her window, she saw guys in black leather, riding motorcycles and they are all strangers.  For one thing, they were trying to teach the kids to not talk got strangers.  She said "ok".  The rest is history as they have not missed a year since.

The town is small and community struggles.  So every year starting on morning 2, we start to raise money to give to them.  You seen the pics earlier for 50/50, knifes, gift cards, quilt auctions, platoon challenges,.....this is all to go to Rainelle.

Today, the knife that has the Run For The Wall engraved was auctioned off instead of in the raffle.  It was won by a father / son for $450. WOW!!!

I believe I heard this was one of the highest amounts raise.  Dan "Boiler maker" I believe had a lot to do with this.  He set up some new ideas this year that really seemed to work. One of the biggest ones was the platoon challenge. Some thing new and it raised over $13,000 in that alone.  AWESOME DAN!!!

As Papa Smurf give details on the day, Larry, Jenny and I , sort out the platoon challenge, the 50/50,... and any other "goofer" jobs that need to be done before we leave.  There is a lot of work from a lot of people to make this work.

 All those with hands up are FNG.... amazing how many there are.

 As we leave, the fire fighters are all waving to send us safely off.

 Several of the road guards will do this as the platoons leave. You have already seen several pics.  This reminds us everyday that this is a mission to bring our guys / girls home.  This is Ken

 If you make this pic bigger you will see 3 signs:
All gave some, some gave all
           Run for theWall, 1 Mission, 3 routes
Freedom is not free              

We make one stop, Charleston WV , the capital

Need to have a group shot.  Not wide enough to get everyone in one shot.  Check this out!!!

Staging has done yet another great job!!

 This was along the fence out on a 2 lane road.  There are a lot of place you will see flags. 

They really support this Mission.

The people are very supportive.  Cannot get over how many you see.

Unbelievable how many people are out waving and thanking us.  This town is not that big.  I bet 95% are out some where cheering us on.  LOTS of school kids.

 Could not pass up the photo op.  GEORGEOUS !!!!

 What a gorgeous ride.!!!  Windy and dry roads.  I could have taken 100 pics  But I will save you the misery.

 More flags and not just one

 Hey check this out.  A Harley dealer.  

YEAH WE MADE IT TO RAINELLE!!!!
The street are just lined with people

 We have to make a loop thru town to park in front of the school.  So we pass the pack. Pretty neat.

 All the kids are in the maroon shirts

WE ARE THE FUTURE!!!

 This is soo neat.  They want OUR autographs!!!  Most of us have brought trinkets for them.
Many of the parents in this crowd were kids when the first set of riders came thru.  Now their kids are the kids.

 What a neat idea.  They sign a shirt on one of the riders. In turn we sign for theirs.

 This lady is 92 years old and sharp as tack.  She has made most of the events over the last 28 years.

 Boiler Maker and his bag of goodies

There are postures in the hall from years past.

 All the halls are filled with postures.  AMAZING.  History  of RFTW presents here.

We proceeded to the front, the kids and the RFTW participants sing "God Bless America".

Then we have a surprise, GUNNY showed up and thanked everyone and all they have done this year.

This cage was then brought out.  Shocking and you could have heard a pin drop. This is a gentleman sitting in a cage.  This is how many of our POWs were/are held. WE NEED TO STOP this and get them home.  Please keep the message going.

Here is the lady on the board for Rainelle.  Look at all this money

Hills of West Virginia were beautiful on the way to our hotel. Hard to believe tomorrow we reach DC and go to the wall.

Short riding day of only 131 miles
Beautiful day and only a little rain before we left for the day.

Think about our riders tomorrow.  The Vietnam Wall is a very powerful memorial to visit. There will be a lot of emotions surface and hopefully healing will begin for some.