May 22, 2019 - Day 8 to DC - Corydon, IN to Hurrican, WV

You prayer warrior are spectacular!!  What a great day!!  Temps started at 73 and no rain.  Even in the afternoon it went to 94 but there was a nice cloud cover.  Great riding weather.

Lance is our Raffle Rouser.  The hat he has in his hand was auctioned off.  So as you remember, all the money goes to the kids of Rainelle, WV.  The guys had a lot of fun with this Bush Boys hat.  There is a group of guys from KY that are on the Run.  They had it made, figuring they would maybe get $20.  Well, 2 of the brothers were bidding again each other and others chipped in to help each beat the other brother.... top bid.... $170... Seriously!!  every one was laughing.

Jenny looked at them.... are they crazy... but all going for the kids.

Here is another quilt that was auction.  It was gorgeous and made of several old RFTW t-shirts.

Pledge, prayer and a few words from Eamon.   We break into platoons for their morning meetings.

On the road... and they are already on the bridges at 7:30

Cross the Ohio River and into Kentucky.

We head through Louisville, and we have the highway closed about 8:00.  This is rush hour and being it is a big city, there are hundreds of cars.  Lee , our KY state coordinator, worked with the LEOs and had the highways close for us to get thru.  I would guess there were a lot of people late for work.

On our way to Robley Rex, we get a gap in the pack.  Needless to say they took a wrong turn.  Kirk and another road guard SAVED THE DAY..... wow that sound like superman.  Do not let Kirk hear that.  This is now called the Robley Rex Run Around.  They went to the next exit and flipped around and got there only about 10 minutes later.  You have to remember, there are hundreds of bike.  You cannot just stop. It I like a freight train. You need to give it plenty of time to get it stopped.  Thanks you guys.

We arrive at Robley Rex  VA Hospital and are greeted with open arms.  They love when the Run comes thru.  The patients love it and cannot wait til we get here.

The Robley Rex  VA Medical Center is an active, affiliated acute care and outpatient facility located on a 47-acre hilltop near downtown Louisville and overlooking the Ohio River. The medical center also operates three community based outpatient clinics in the greater Louisville area. These clinics make VA services more accessible for veterans residing in the Kentucky area.

Rex Robley was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and enlisted in the military in May, 1919, six months after the Armistice date. He severed for 3 years.  He was the last Kentucky World War I era veteran, and the last known World War I era veteran of the United States.

In 1986, Rex turned to volunteerism, lending support to fellow veterans at the Louisville Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Rex logged more than 14,000 hours of volunteer time while at the Center. He dedicated his life helping his fellow veterans, both through the veterans service organizations and activities at the Medical Center.  He continued to volunteer there three days a week, even at age 105.

Billy with 3 of the nurses.  They do so much for our veterans.  Thanks ladies.

The Pledge of Allegiance is said. Oh my gosh the number of veteran is amazing.

We were able to visit several of the patients. They are always so excited to see us come in and love to hear the sound of the motorcycles as we pull in.

This gentleman served in Navy from 1964 to 1967.  He was on the USS Yorktown.  He put the aircraft on the elevators to get to them up on deck.  They put inappropriate notes on the bombs. He just smiled from ear to ear.  I can only imagin what they wrote. 😁😁😁

This gentleman served in the Army from1976-1979.  It was the end of the Vietnam war.  Back then, no one would talk about it. It was a war that they did not want to be in and then were treated purely when they returned. This is his son with him.  He was a very grateful we stopped. And thanked us for doing the Run.

Before you leave , you have to see Popcorn Billy.  He is famous in the hospital, and he love the girls, just ask him.

 The gentleman to his left served with "Popcorn" Billy.  He gave me the story on Billy.  The 2 here and Billy's twin brother served in the same unit from 1968-69.  They were in the 57th Assault Helicopter Company. It was the first attach on a helicopter unit. Billy's brother died in this attach and Billy was wounded.  Ever since he has been helping all the people can.  The name "popcorn" came because he makes popcorn and sells it then donates the proceed. He buys all the supplies.  Always smiling and likes hugs!!

Here is one of our road guards taking a breather. They work really hard keeping us safe.

 Ready to role.

 Lee way to go getting the over passes covered.

 We are on the roads for so many days that we miss our families.  Lee's family visited him at a gas stop.  So cute.

 

 This is Becca, one of our Medical personal.  Thanks Becca for your hard work. Also she is from Alaska. WOW!!!

Heading to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial we still have the highway closed for us.

As we arrive, several members from the Cincinnati Harley chapters greet us.  Great to see everyone. Thanks for making the trip.

 

Vietnam War Sundial

The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial was designed with a unique approach to honor the military dead from one of America's most troubled conflicts. A 14-foot high steel sundial stands at the center of a granite plaza. Its gnomon casts a shadow on the chiseled name of each fallen Vietnam war veteran -- 1,103 of them -- on the anniversary of when they were killed.  Thus each individual is honored with a personal tribute.
Kentucky's 23 MIAs are listed behind the sundial so its shadow never falls on their names.  Some have been found since this was build. Those are the ones  with a date.  We never forget and we will not stop until we bring them all home.

The Memorial is one of the largest granite memorials in the nation and contains 327 cut stone panels weighing more than 215 tons. The stone came from the Pyramid Blue quarry in Elberton, GA. The lettering of the names and dates are the same style used for official government grave markers throughout the nation, including Arlington National Cemetery.  

If you ever get a chance to go see it, go.  It is amazing and an engineering marvel.

 Now flying the Kentucky flag.

WOW!!!  This is on an overpass.  

We come into Mt. Sterling and what a reception. Here all the kids are out waving flags and screaming.  So neat. 

As we pull into the Clay Community Center, this big guy is greeting us.

 That last leg was very hot. Coming into the center , that was air conditioned felt sooo good.

 See is only take a few second to say "Thanks for your service".  Not only should you do it for our service men and women, you should also do it for our police and firemen.  They have your back on a closer  level.

 Jackie and Ron are both mayors.How cool is that to have active mayors riding all the way on the Run

After lunch, I too a few pics as we rolled thru KY into WV.  Then sat back and just enjoyed the beauty. Enjoy the ride with me.

 Then I saw this.  Look at the size!!!  This is on a bridge.

 Next we heard this load noise.  One of the riders at dinner told me he thought there was something wrong with his bike.  Nope, it was a helicopter escorting us into Hurricane , WV which is our ending destination for the night. Pretty cool.

 It was pretty low.

Arrive in Hurricane.  

WOW!!!  I think have said this now 3 time in this post.  

 We are singing the Star Spangle Banner. I will never get tired of the respect we have.

 This is the couple from Italy I wrote about on May 19.  You are amazing for coming so far.

Thanks and welcome to the RFTW family.

Since we just came off the bikes in 90 degree weather, this felt amazing.

Here is the Huey the flew over us.

Tomorrow we visit the kids at Rainelle. Since the begin of the Run we have been collecting money for the schools in that town.  It was one of the first school "Gunny" Gregory stopped at on his first run from CA of DC in 1989.  I am told that these bikers gave the kids a ride on their bikes.  Really, bikers , black leather … and kids.  This friendship has been there for 31 years and thru many generations.

Temps: 73-94
Route: I-64E
Miles: 252

Quotes: (2 for today)

            Honoring the past, inspiring the future

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