May 21, 2024 – Day 7 to DC – Wentzville, MO to Corydon, IN

 May 21, 2024 – Day 7 to DC – Wentzville, MO to Corydon, IN

Sorry all. I forgot to post some pics of Junction City from last year since we did not get to see it 2 days ago. Hopefully you will all be back next year to see it. ☺☺☺

Today I went on a breakout to Perryville, MO. This is where they have an exact replica of the Vietnam Wall that is in Washington DC. The big difference is the one in DC is engraved and the one in Perryville is etched. It even has the name that a misspelled in DC, also misspelled here.

We headed out early and the sun was trying to peek out from around the clouds. After the other night, the sun is a very welcomed thing.

We get off the highway and travel back country road. It is kind of nice since we have been on the highways pretty much since we left Ontario.

We stopped for fuel before we arrived at the memorial. I helped a little....new job for me? No thanks, I will let the fuel team keep it. They do such a great job.

We arrive in parade formation with our 3 flags.

This is the wall from off the road. Pretty imperative.

We were greeted by the staff, where we presented them with a check to help them.

On the wall there are multiple panels. Rosie gave me a lot of information.

• The panels start at the apex from 1959
• Each panel has the name listed alphabetically with in the day of their loss
• So if you see : Jones, Murphy, Smith, Brown,.... Brown starts a new day
• The first panel has 700 names, and it took 5 years to get them
• Panel 2 took 5 months
• Panel 3 took 5 weeks

This place on the wall has the same exact name. It is 2 different people,

killed on same day and both from Missouri

A cross denotes MIA

• 15 was the youngest and 62 was the oldest
• 22 was the average age but most were 18
• 3 sets father/son
• 40 sets of brothers
• 16 clergy
• May 1968 was the worst month
• Coins left:

Penny – signifies that someone (veteran or civilian) has visited the grave
Nickel – signifies that the coin-leaver attended boot camp with the veteran
Dime – signifies that the coin-leaver served with the veteran in some capacity
Quarter – signifies that the coin-leaver was present when the veteran died

As load, Kirk shows me the odometer on his bike.  77,777.  Sounds like he needs to get a lottery ticket.

I love the ride back to regroup with the pack.

Wheat on one side, corn on the other. You can even smell the wheat.

 You can also smell the fertilizer they spray here.

Did you ever wonder how much one of these weighs? We often see a lot on a truck
An average bail will weigh 700-900 pounds. Now times that by the number on a semi.
They are hauling a lot of weight.

We now head of the great Mississippi River. This is always a cool site

Not sure what this is but I think it is a sprayer.  

We comment instead of going around it, we could just go under it.

 Caught the pack at the gas station.  Yeah, fuel team is there, I do not have to work.

Lance is ready to go!!

Kids give us a great reception as we leave and head to lunch at Mt. Vernon Airport.

 Even the nursing home residents come out to see us.

Heading into the airport

                                         

Airport has a great staging area.  Lots of room!!

Leaving here on I-64, the terrain has again changed.  Lots of green!!!! And lots of heat.

At this gas station there is hot dog vendor that everyone talks about.  Again, all donated to the Run.  We just ate chicken, and we are on our way to have a fish dinner, but you have to have a hot dog.

Fun Fact:

Dewig Meats, located in Haubstadt, Indiana began in 1916 by three Dewig brothers. Today, Dewig Brothers Meat Packing is still family owned and operated by third generation Dewig meat processors. Our retail store boasts a fully stocked 12,000 ft. retail meat market, custom-cut orders & butchering & processing services. Our completely updated retail meat market features 18 self-serve cooler doors and 21 self-serve freezer doors LOADED with award winning meat products. Customer service is key, “The customer is always right,” is our motto.

The hot dogs were really good.

I asked this stagger if he gets paid double for this.

He laughed and said "Nope, same as for just the one".

I am loving this. We are getting so close to home (Cincinnati, OH).

Ok Now I am riding with Jenny.  I should be riding with her now until DC.

We had to head out in front of the pack because 

Jenny was a little concerned with her Spyder overheating.

  

Great opportunity. for me to SEE the pack coming in, instead of being in it.  It was pretty cool.

In 2015, my FNG year, I met Sue at the Wentzville Vietnam Memorial. Sue was in the Navy in 1955.

Served 2 years coordinator of the women’s barrack. 

She was the quarter bouncer.  The next 2 years she served as a stewardess

for the commanders. 

This year since we did the breakout, I missed it. My brother and his daughter

saw her and she asked where I was. She was so disappointed since she had made me something.

This is Ron, Sue (age 87), Sherri (her daughter), Courtney.

Here is what she made me.  WOW. This is soooo cool.  I LOVE IT.  

She is just another part of this family.

Pic from the day (Thanks Courtney).  This is at the memorial.

Wentzville Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Wentzville takes extreme pride in being home to the first Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the United States. Wentzville was the first city in the nation to realize that the troops who served in Vietnam deserved to be honored.

As it stands today, the Wentzville Vietnam Veterans Memorial consists of a single-column of red Missouri granite, topped by the carved figure of an eagle. Inscribed in the column’s base is:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial December 1967

“Whither thou goest, I will go.”

We are on the road for 10 days on this journey. 

Many spend another week plus traveling before and after the Run. 

So a lot of us are away for about 3 weeks.  This is nothing compared

to how long our service men and women are deployed.  Keep all our

active duty in your thoughts and prayers.   

We are now back on Eastern time. Funny thing I overheard today,

I do not care what time zone we are in, just will someone tell me

the current time so I am not late tomorrow.

Temp: 60-hot (about 83)

Route: I-64E

Total Miles: 290

Quote for the day:

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