May 24, 2018 - Day 9 - Nitro, WV to Lewisburg, WV

Got up today and again no rain expected.  Foggy but that is ok.

Breakfast.  Last morning to do the raffle, 50/50, auction.... because this is the day we go to Rainelle

 Nitro is kind of know for their WWI museum.  On the side walk about every 10 feed is this.

A Sea of bikes.

 Here is platoon 2.  check out the number card.  It is the old plates we used at the beginning of the week.  He saved I all week.

 Kids are walking past the bikes.  Comments are pretty cute.  "I like the red one"  "I like the one with all the silver"...

 Kids made this as a send off for us.

They all sat here and cheered us as we left.

 Way to cute. Love to see this kids.  Thanks mom for this great lesson

 This is a road worker.  When we came thru there was a salute. Lots of people know about the Run, and what it stands for.

 If you look behind him the cars are stopped.  I saw him come up the hill from his car and stand.

 yet another person as we roll down the street.

 This young man has been coming to the Charleston memory ever since he was born.

 At the age of 4 he stepped on this wall as all the bikes passed.  Today, he is 14 and hold his salute until all are in.  I asked who he did this for and he said his Papi

 Another geat day from he WV officers.!!

 Parked about the Capital plaza. Bikes everywhere.

 Ron and Courtney get to ride missing man.  I talked to the Rainelle principle, and she and her husband were supposed to ride this leg but were unable.

Ron rode for Ken Manson and George Schraer

Missing man is manned every leg of the Run.  Here is the formation.:

Route Coordinator                       State Coordinator

Person riding 

Missing man coordinator            Head Chaplin

Here is how it looks on the road:

This is a honor to ride in this to honor a follow service man or women.  Can be used for a person still living that has server. 

In Charleston, there is a memorial for WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam vets. 

 There names are listed on the inside.

This gentleman is the designer.

 Picture time.  This is all ( ok most ) or he rider on the steps of the capital

 Here is Jared McKinley.  Very polite young man

 As we leave.    Watching this man, it looked like he could hardly walk.  But he was not going to let the stop him to pay tribute to the Run.

Enjoy the pics on the way to Rainelle

There were so many out here..... some had flags and rest were waving.

 Past another school..These kids were yelling so loud , you could hear them over the engines.

We ride past  Rainelle School.  Oh my gosh what a welcome.

We arrive and get surrounded by kids.  Enjoy the pics.  We had a great time. 

This school was the first school Gunny and his men went thru in 1989.  They have visited this school  every year.  IN fact several of those original kids now have kids that are at this school.

Ron had the kids sign his shirt...looks like they had fun

A few years ago, Gomez started his own collection.  He has a book  that he has the kids sign.  A few pages every year.  What a great idea.

 Jared McKinley was the boy that was saluting.  We had  him hop on the back of a bike and he rode up to Rainelle with us... he loved it.  Here Larry is signing his shirt.

 Lunch served in school.  pretty funny seeing this big guys on small tables and chairs.

One thing that  most people love about Rainelle is the Banana pudding.. thanks to these ladies.

This flag was so unique. If you look close enough, the strips are foot prints and the Stars are hands.

 Jenny got 2 kids to help her say the Pledge or Allegiance.

 Then he played to Star Spangle Banner.  

 Sorry do not know this gentleman name but he sang a song the brought tears to my eye.

 Whiteburch was looking at the paper from  Jenny as to what the amount was we raised for the school.  He asked her to come up because he could not believe the amount.  We raised over $25000 is 8 days.  HOLY COW!!!  Principle Tincher was soo happy.  She commented the all her kids are very patriotic and the RFTW is the best history lesson.

 Gunny was not able to make it today but I did see the original T-shirt hanging in a gas station near the school.  They hang it up every year at this time

Someone came up to me to day and know that I like sayings.  He said to me:

"We can ride to failure , but not to destruction. "

"We cannot change the starting line , but can change the finish"

Keep all the veterans in your hearts and prayer so they can seek any help they need.

Total miles =  121

Weather = 55 - 80

Route = I-64 to st. rt 60 to I 64