May 20, 2024 – Day 6 to DC – Junction City, KS to Wentzville, MO

 May 20, 2024 – Day 6 to DC – Junction City, KS to Wentzville, MO

WOW! What a night it was last night. A few more stories.

-Several people had bruises and one person got a finger broken.

- Someone else told me that the hail hit his kill switch.

-Someone on the Run had his property hit. He lives close by so went home to assess the damage. He said his bike barn was gone, all his animals gone, and his wheat field was destroyed from too much water. His daughter said, go we will handle this. Pray for this family please.

The registration team and a few others spent most of the night making calls to PLs and other hotels to confirm all were accounted for. Thanks for all the work and yes all were accounted for.

Thanks to the prayer warrior for making sure everyone was safe, but next time can you pray for no hail please. Those really hurt. Bruises are starting to feel a little better.

Some gave me his and said this pic was captured by the storm catchers from behind the storm. We were right in the middle of this.

Here is a pic of Tom, last man, and Stephen, and his truck. Look at the hail damage.

This was from a baseball size hail ball.  Look at the circle in the windshields. Glad you 2 are ok.

Today this gentleman the brick yesterday. Remember this from the first day. We have been able to get someone every day.

Here is the info. I finally go it.

This couple carried it today.

As we get on the road, the overpasses are starting to fill up. People are showing everywhere.

Now we need to navigate a toll booth. Piece of cake...

As we head into Missouri, Thumper, our Missouri state coordinator, gets us an escort cross the state.  This form is what I call the "flying V".  It is pretty neat to see them peel off and close entrance ramps, stop existing cars and truck already on the highway to make sure we are safe. To make sure we complete our missions.

Pretty cool to see them work

We head into Concordia, MO.  

The last few years we have come here there has always been a WWII veteran.  This year was no exception.  My understanding was that his only Christmas wish was to be able to come and see all of us and thank us for keeping the mission going, to bring everyone home.

I watched him and he was so excited to see everyone.

What a great park

Each town has their uniqueness.  They have the kids make up bags for us to take but they also put cards and envelopes in them.  They want us to give them our city and state. What a great way for the kids to learn. They learn firsthand about our veterans. Thanks, kids, for the bag.

Great day to be outside.  The coordinator always does something pretty cool.  It really brings us closer as a family.  We ALL sing the Star-Spangled Banner and say The Lord's prayer together.  This makes our RFTW even closer.  Thanks Lori.  

Daniel, I did not know you had such a good voice.

Here we have Jack and Dean.  They are uncle/nephew.  Jack is 81 and loving every minute of this.

Here is our medical team.  We always hope they are bored.

Ok let's head out to our final destination, Wentzville, MO. What a sendoff.

Back to the flying V.

A little fun at a gas stop.

Hey Catfish, I think this little girl wants to be road guard.

What a reception from Wentzville, MO.

After all the presentations are complete, we get a 21 guns salute....

 and taps. Beautiful.

Thanks to all for feeding us and helping us complete our missions.

As we leave and head for dinner, I hear this song.

I hope you take a few minutes to read it all.

Ragged Old Flag

by Johnny Cash

I walked through a county courthouse square

On a park bench, an old man was sittin' there.

I said, "Your old court house is kinda run down,

He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town".

I said, "Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,

And that's a ragged old flag you got hangin' on it".

He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down,

"Is this the first time you've been to our little town"

I said, "I think it is"

He said "I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of that ragged old flag"

You see, we got a little hole in that flag there

When Washington took it across the Delaware.

And It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it

Writing "Say Can You See"

It got a bad rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson

Tugging at it's seams.

And it almost fell at the Alamo

Beside the Texas flag,

But she waved on though.

She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville,

And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.

There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,

And the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag

On Flanders Field in World War I

She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun

She turned blood red in World War II

She hung limp, and low, a time or two

She was in Korea, Vietnam, she went where she was sent

By her Uncle Sam

She waved from our ships upon the briny foam

And now they've about quit wavin' back here at home

In her own good land here She's been abused

She's been burned, dishonored, denied an' refused

And the government for which she stands

Has scandalized throughout out the land

And she's getting thread bare, and she's wearin' thin

But she's in good shape, for the shape she's in

Cause she's been through the fire before

And I believe she can take a whole lot more

So we raise her up every morning

And we take her down every night,

We don't let her touch the ground,

And we fold her up right.

On a second thought

I do like to brag

'Cause I'm mighty proud of that ragged old flag

*********

SAY THEIR NAME AND THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

Temps: 55-77

Route: I-70E

Miles: 343

Quote for the day:      

Honoring the past, inspiring the future