May 27, 2018 - DC to Home

This is bitter / sweet that I write my last entry.  I have very much enjoyed writing this blog and informing everyone of RFTW.

Cannot let the day go by with a few pics I took today on the way home.  We have such a beautiful country.  Enjoy.

I hope this blog has given you some idea of  our mission. It is a grueling trip.   Long day, short night, 4;30 AM wake up calls…. This starts to wear on you.  Our trip was only 10 day.  Think  of our troops in extreme hot and cold days.  They have lack of sleep, long days......they stand to keep us safe a lot longer than 10 days.

Here are a few fun facts about our trip
 - Temperature ranged 29-103
 - We traveled in 14 states + Washington DC
 - From Loveland, OH to Ontario, CA to DC back to  Loveland – 6040 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 personnel…..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 volunteers.

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

-  Some made the ultimate sacrifice

-  Honoring the past, inspiring the future

-  Please tell him he is more than just a name on a wall

On the Run, we said the Pledge every day.  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.

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

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

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. 

I leave you with this song: Proud to be an American (by: Lee Greenwood) 

If tomorrow all the things were gone

I'd worked for all my life

And I had to start again

With just my children and my wife

I'd thank my lucky stars

To be living here today

Cause the flag still stands for freedom

And they can't take that away

 And I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I gladly stand up

Next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota

To the hills of Tennessee

Across the plains of Texas

From sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston,

And New York to L.A

Well there's pride in every American heart

And its time we stand and say

That I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I gladly stand up

Next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA.

 Back home!

May 26, 2018 - In DC: Arlington, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall

We started the day with the FNGs to ride into Arlington, then pictures on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, then the apex of the Vietnam Wall to complete our mission.

RFTW is allowed to ride the bikes into Arlington.  There are 400 tags for any FNG that wants to ride.

In Arlington.  Over 400,000 graves, all with flags.   The 3^rd infantry puts the flags at each head stone. They are placed the Thursday prior to Memorial Day

Service men and women buried since 1860, the Civil War.

As we head to the steps, you can see bikes everywhere.  

 Check out the paint job on this one.

We head to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Oh my goodness, check out the number of people.

We go to the Vietnam Wall. This is an emotional time.  You see those crying, those feeling the names on the wall, leaving memorabilia, prayers.... Lots of people and very quiet.

Remember, every day in morning call, we went thru 2 names still not returned. Many of us carried  bios, found them on the wall , and left them.  We pray they will be returned.

RFTW leaves a plaque, MISSION COMPLETE!!!

 

As we are walking along the Wall, Kim, one of our Platoon leader's wife is playing the bag pipes. 

 It is very quiet along the wall and you could really hear them. Where is my tissue please?

 There were a few gentlemen wheeled down the ramp.  Not sure how long  it took them to get thru.  Everyone shook his hand :  "Welcome home" , "Thank you for your service".

 Gunny started this 30 years ago.  We will not forget and we will continue to bring everyone home.

Thanks Gunny!

I will have one more post tomorrow.

May 25, 2018 - Day 10 to DC - Lewisburg, WV To Washington DC

What an absolutely gorgeous day!!!  61 degrees when we left and got warmer as the day went on.  Very warm but no complaints here!!!

So even though it was a great day, we were not so sure we were going to be able to ride.  This year one of the chase vehicles brought his son with him.  He is the mechanic for the Run. He has fixed 28 bikes before this morning, trying to keep the bikes on the road and not having to actually go into the dealer.  Seems the clutch went out.  "Wrench" was able to get us up and going YEAH!!!!  Bike 29 fixed.

Another father / son on the Run - this is Wrench's dad

As you have seen me write a few times before, Harlan will read a bio and someone will carry it to the wall. The lady in the middle if a gold star daughter.  Her father is shot down when she was 6.   She will carry his bio.

After this, someone came up to give Harlan some news.  A pilot was recovered this week after missing for 52 years from the Vietnam War.  He was from Salem, Washington.

THIS IS WHY WE RIDE!!

After all the morning business was finished, the FNGs get a zip tie to put on their bikes. This will allow them to ride into Arlington Cemetery for the wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Only FNGs get to go from all 3 routes.

 

Tigger updated us on the final number of bikes and riders registered:

       718 registered

       570 bikes

Father Daughter:  Ron "Drip" and Courtney "tweeter" ready to roll for the last day

 Brian "Diesel", one of  the road guards, was thanked for saving one of our riders.  Short story, a car was trying to race to get past one of riders and was getting too close.  Brian saw this and went between the car the rider. Car veered away.

 This is the rider.  Several from her platoon stated that had he not been there , she may have been pushed off the road.  Brian talked to that platoon this morning.  Very humble.  This is part of our job.  We need to make sure the pack get to there destination safely. Thanks Brian.

"Omelette" keeping thing lively before we head out for the day.

Group pic of the leadership.

 One last look at the morning sea of bikes.  Been seeing his for 10 day and still amazes me.

 Here are several pics from the day.  You know me, got to get some last time scenery pics in.  We have such a beautiful country with all kinds of landscapes.  Hope you have liked them.

Because of our FREEDOM, I am able to do this.

 Road Guard break away.  This happens several miles out from our exit.  They need to get to the exit and help set up for directing the pack: off the ramp, any additional turns, in the gas stop...

This next gas stop is a small one.  They told me today this is the highlight of the year for them.  She has a father with dementia.  The one day he remembers is when all the bikes come in.  He was not able to make it this year but here is his daughter and her son.  He was taking pics of all the bikes to show him.  (he  just got a new camera)  This station gave us .15 off per gallon.  SWEET!!

 

  Papa Smurf on the side , waiting for all to pass.  

Nice ceremony at the Harley dealer where we had lunch

 This little guy is our future.  We need to keep them safe.

 Check out the color of the shirts.  RED is warn on Friday.
       R- Remember
       E - Everyone
       D - Deployed
It is not just worn during the run, but all year long.  Keeps us reminded that we still have men and women deployed today and need to remember them.  So next Friday what color shirt will you wear?
Let me help you: RED

 RC  and Mama O: Getting or giving  last minute instruction be for we take off.

 You have heard me mention Scooter.  He is the birddog .  He is on the blue bike .

 As we leave the Harley Dealer and check out the color to the cars:  Red, White, Blue (just in case some of your are color blind)

Winding around the roads to get to the entrance ramp.  Again, it amazes me how many bikes.

Heading into DC.  Traffic gets a little ( ok a lot) more congested. 

 

As we see the miles to Arlington get lower and lower , I realize our mission is almost complete.  I also think of all the troops still deployed all over this world. And that some today may not be able to count down when they will be able to come home.   

There are still many MIA and POWs that we will need to bring home. Let us NEVER forget them.

We get some help on the way in.

Even though we have lots of traffic , they try to make is safe to get off the exit.

 One more block !!!

MADE IT... Hugs all around

 One more parking lot to squeeze bikes into.....

This is kind of getting to be a tradition.  Jamie ( Courtney, sister) is tossed up on Nate's shoulders. 

When I look at this picture tonght, Nate is like our troops.  Big and Strong.

Kind of like saying:  I got you, no need to worry.  

Gunny thanks his wife for going with him and putting up with him.

We went to dinner last night and talked to our waitress.  Come to find out her dad  is Lt. Colonel Beaumont. He served 12 months in Desert Storm, 12 month in Korea (not the Korean War), and 23 months in Iraqi Freedom / Kuwait.  He has 3 masters degrees.  So she has been around service all her life.  Last night we face timed him ( there was about 8 of us) and said "Thank you for your service".  It was pretty cool.  She is very proud of her dad.  

Total miles = 254
Temps = 61-80
Route = I-64 to I-81 to I-66

Our missions is not yet complete. We will be going to the Wall tomorrow.