May 24, 2023 – Day 8 to DC – Corydon, IN to Hurricane, WV

  May 24, 2023 – Day 8 to DC – Corydon, IN to Hurricane, WV

This day is packed.  Lots going on and we could not have had better weather.  

We start with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.  Check out all those saluting.  These are your veterans.

Paul brings up the Indiana and Kentucky state coordinators.  Indiana was rocking it with the bridges.  Kentucky has police escort thru Louisville giving us clear roads. This is the best since there are several interchanges in the downtown area.  Thanks guys.

As we leave the pack meeting: 

HOW FAR WE GOING?   All the way.

Then someone yells:

AND WHICH WAY WE GOING?  all yell "East".

Ron's other daughter, Jamie, came to visit with us last night.  She had to go back to work by noon.  Not an issue since she is only 2 hours away.  HOWEVER, we made her do the hand signals.  She did pretty good.

She brought her 7 month old daughter and she was the hit of the morning.

This is a sea of bikes and helmets.  So cool when they all start. The Harleys that is.  You cannot hear the Honda.  hahaha

Few clouds but they quickly cleared.  Love the sun thru the clouds.

We head over the Ohio River and into Louisville.  

Oh no, where is the escort!!!

AHHHH clear roads.

What the signs boys.... remember go EAST!!

Cool pic of the river with the sun.  I am a sucker for a beautiful river.

Our first stop is Robley Rex VA Medical Center.  It has been 4 years since we were able to go into the hospital and visit patients.  They are still careful and had only small areas open.  Off the bikes and lots heading to the building.  

Fun Fact:

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 served 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 Veterans 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.

There is a gentleman who knows about  "Popcorn" Billy.  He gave me the story about Billy.  The 2 men 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 attack on a helicopter unit. Billy's brother died in this attack and Billy was wounded.  Ever since he has been helping all the people.  The name "popcorn" came because he makes popcorn and sells it then donates the proceeds. He buys all the supplies.  Always smiling and he loves hugs!!

He sees me and grabs a hug!!! They he sees Courtney and give her a big hug.

He is now 78 and his ailments from Vietnam are really affecting him. He has stopped doing the popcorn but still goes and visits the vets. He used to work on Wednesday every week. He tells me they now only do the popcorn once a month and it is not as good. Also, he adds, they do not fill the bags to the top. We laugh and say you just cannot get good help these days.

A memorial at the hospital. This was done as an Eagle Scout project.

Next the hospital director starts the ceremonies for the day.  We thank all the officers for giving us a clear road.

Billie speaks and says thank you to all the veterans for keep the memory alive and continuing the mission.  He leads up in the Pledge.

Next there was lady that wanted to talk.  I did not get her name, but father was a POW in Vietnam for 10 years.  They never found him so MIA.  Her mother took her life after spending 25 years trying to learn/find anything she could about her husband.  She is buried in Arlington Cemetery.  She asks us to continue the mission and never stop.  We cannot leave anyone behind. Ok now a lot of people's allergies are kicking in. 

We get a great send off and ride in the beautiful hill (not mountains) of Kentucky.

Next stop is Vietnam War Sundial in Frankfort, KY.

Before we start, we say the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

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 built. 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.

If you remember at the start of the Run, we asked an FNG to carry a book and get signatures of an MIA/KIA.  Here are the names of those remaining to be found and you will see; Joseph C Morrison is still on the list and the shadow will never fall on his name.

Someone asked what about leap year.  To date there is no one here who was born on February 29.

As we are finishing up and heading to our bikes, there is a very familiar sound.  It is the sound of a Huey off in the distance.  It is a very distinct sound.  We have heard it before on the Run as we head into Hurricane WV.

The Huey follows us a bit on the highway.   Riders "Do Not look at the helicopter!!!"

Stay on I-64 East!!!!

We pass thru the Lexington horse fields.  Beautiful animals.

This is a packed day.  We now head to Mt. Serling for lunch.   Stager, are you ready?  Here we come.

Lunch was pork tenderloin, Cole slaw, potato salad AND Energy Drinks.!!! There is 80-degree temp, we have had a big meal, and we have lots of miles to ride.  This is a train wreck for some tired bikers.  The energy drinks have caffeine to help keep you awake.

After lunch we hit the road again to Hurricane WV.  

Some great bridges.

We are getting closer to the front of the pack.  Positions today are 8,9,1,2,3,4,5,6,7.

You have heard of "Where's Waldo?"  Here it is "Where's Courtney?"

Last stop of the day is in Hurricane for Dinner...... Didn't we just eat lunch?

Check out this town.

We are now rolling into the park.  

OH MY GOSH !!!  Look at these cuties!!

They welcome everyone.  The flag is raised, and the Pledge of Allegiance is said.

This is Ann.  Her mother was a Rosie the Riveter.  As a child of a Rosie, they were often called "rose buds".  This is what she figures she is.

Fun Fact:

Rosie the Riveter is an allegorical cultural icon in the United States who represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who joined the military.

Ann stated that their goal was to bring the boys home. The cause was freedom.   After the war, the women too care of the men both physically and mentally.   They raised their kids to believe in America.  American pulled together then and they should still do it now.  A united front.

Next, we have Duane say a few words.  About 3 weeks after the Run 2022, the Huey that has escorted the Run riders into Hurricane for years, went down.  The 6 on board were killed.  They not only remember the lives lost in that crash but also remember the lives it saves while active during the war.  

Kim then played "Amazing Grace".  It was amazing.There are so many people we need a few boxes of tissues.  It was beautiful and we remember all those lives.

Dinner was great but the best part was the ice cream!!!!

You have seen me mention Kim a lot this past week.  I asked her husband to give me a bio on her.  She is an amazing lady and a very accomplished player.  Pretty sweet to have her among us.

Pipe Major Kim Greeley 

Pipe Major Kim Greeley, born in Hawai’i, has been piping since she was 11 years old.  Kim has studied and performed piping in Hawai’i, on the mainland, in Canada, and in the United Kingdom. 

Kim was initially taught by Aggie Wallace, the piper from Scotland who was the first to train pipers in Hawai’i.  Kim then studied piping with professional pipers from Scotland and Canada at the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia, and at the Coeur D’Alene Piping School in Idaho, before moving to the U.K. to study piping yearround.

In the U.K., Kim studied Ceòl beag and Piobaireachd, the classical music of the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes, for several years with Pipe Major Alexander MacDonald, Scots Guards.  Pipe Major MacDonald was the Piper to the Sovereign, the Piobair an Bhàn Righ or personal piper, for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. 

Temps: 57-85 

Route: I-64E

Miles: 252

Quote for the day:

            Heroes do not wear capes, they wear dog tags.