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!