RUN FOR THE WALL Jean and Larry: May 5, 2024

May 5, 2024– Day 1 to Ontario

Welcome back to all those that have followed me before. And "Welcome" to all the newcomers. I am Jean and I will be submitting an entry every day on our journey from Loveland, OH to Ontario, California. I am riding west with my husband, Larry, and my brother, Ron. Then riding from Ontario to Washington DC with the RFTW family.

Something new this year, we will be riding the Sandbox Route from Washington DC to Marseilles, IL This will be May 26-28. It continues the Mission to the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois.

May 15-24, 2024

We ride for those who can’t.

For those new to following us, and as a reminder for those who watched

us the prior years, below is our mission statement and what RFTW is all about.

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Larry, my husband and my driver, and I will be joining a group of motorcyclists

to ride across our beautiful United States. This will be our 8th year. The ride is

called “Run For The Wall”. (RFTW.us)The ride will start in Ontario May 15 and end May 24 in Washington DC.

I thought you may like to follow us and see some of the pictures in honor of those that served.

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.

Philosophy:

We strive to maintain a safe, supportive, and private atmosphere in

which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam

Memorial in Washington, DC in the hope that they can return

home to a new beginning.

Goals:

1) To guide the participants across America.

2) To educate future generations as to the importance of accountability

in wartime actions emphasizing that no one should be left behind.

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History (from the RFTW.us website)

Run For The Wall® (RFTW) was started in 1989 by James Gregory and Bill Evans,

two Vietnam Veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles.

They talked to local radio, TV and newspapers about the thousands of men and women

still unaccounted for from all wars. The need for this awareness continues today and

we carry on this tradition every May.

We don’t give political speeches or stage demonstrations. RFTW gets its message

to the public by riding across the United States: Coast-to-Coast. We obey traffic laws

and treat all citizens with dignity and respect. The issue of public awareness is

only part of the reason RFTW exists. We also give Vietnam Veterans and all Veterans

he opportunity to receive their own “Welcome Home” and start their healing process.

Anyone who has fought or has friends or loved ones who have fought in a war, has

their own issues from their own experience — the welcome home, the goodbye to

buddies lost, the ability to finally help the young men and women we watch every

night on TV, or just trying to accept coming home alive. Many who participate in

The Run find that whatever they’ve been missing can be found in the RFTW family.

They can finally start settling issues that have been “stuffed” away for many years.

There’s a nominal charge for participating in The Run, plus you pay your own

expenses such as lodging. We are fortunate to receive support from organizations

and people along the way. Most breakfasts, lunches, and evening dinners are provided

FREE, or for a small donation by concerned citizens. There are many generous

groups and individuals who also pay for our gas, too.

The trip is a 10-day ride from Ontario, California, to the Vietnam Veterans

Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, where The Run officially ends. We meet

on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday before Memorial Day. From

there, we walk as a group to The Wall and declare our Mission Complete by

placing a plaque at the apex.

During the journey across the US, we make stops at memorials, Veterans’

Hospitals and schools. We enjoy parades, escorts and “Welcome Home”

receptions provided by the patriots in our host cities.

Participants range in age from 8 to 80. They include fathers, mothers,

grandfathers and grandmothers (some of whom ride their own bikes!);

veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom

and Afghanistan; active duty military; supporters; friends and family.

Everyone is welcome, veterans and non-veterans alike. The main rule

is NO ATTITUDES.

Some people join RFTW and think it is just a vacation or another

motorcycle event. After a day or two, you realize this is something special

and unlike anything you’ve experienced. You become part of the RFTW

family whose members come from all over the United States, Australia,

New Zealand, Canada, The Netherlands, and other countries. What could

be more perfect than riding on a mission, making new friends and helping

a very good cause (POW/MIA)?

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If you have a few minutes, please go to the web site (RFTW.org).

You will be surprised as a few minutes will not be enough. The FNG (Fine

New Guy/Gal) stories of many that have experienced the trip, whether

full or partial, are worth reading. We have a little personal reason for going

on this trip. We have a brother, brother-in-law, and uncle that served in

Vietnam. Also Father that served in WWII and the other in Korea. Also a few

cousins are active today.

Not all of those that served were in the front line or even in the country

where the war/conflict happened. This does not minimize the fact that

they have given time from their life and families to serve to keep us safe.

This is the same for those that are not actually on the Run with us. You

keep us in your prayers and thoughts. We have family members keeping

things going for the 3 weeks we are gone. Thanks to those.

Any time you see a service man or woman, police or fireman, please

take a few minutes to go over to them and thank them for their service.

It only takes a few seconds. Let them know you appreciate what they are doing.

This trip will end at the Vietnam Memorial Wall but the support we need to give to everyone that serves should never end. Keep us, and the 400+ riders we will be riding with in your prayer for a safe ride (and nice weather, we ride in rain, wind, and hail 😊 )

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So lets get started:

We started the day about noon. Family was there to send us off.

Great weather and perfect temps of 73. Clouds and blue skies.

For those that have followed me before, you know I love to show pics of this beautiful country. Today was a short day so only a few pics.

We saw lots of fields that are a brilliant yellow thru Indiana. They make for colorful pics. I did a little investigation and I believe they are weeds. Hahahahaha

Fun Fact:

The yellow flowers growing in Hoosier farm fields might make for an Instagram-worthy picture, but farmers say they’re weeds and a nuisance.

While the flowers can provide nutrients to the soil for farmers who till their soil, no-till farmers usually have to spray chemicals on their fields to kill them.

James Benham is the state president for Indiana Farmers Union. He says the flowers are likely mustard plants and usually die off by the middle of June without harming crops.

"It’s a nuisance to deal with," he says. "But, as far as impacting the crop, in my opinion it does not."

Benham says weeds like these have become more common in recent years, but says they don’t have a long-term impact.

I saw lots of farmers working on a Sunday. Lots of rain is predicted for the week, so I guess you work when you have to. I often think of the farmers and all the produce we have at the stores. They are amazing on the work they do in the huge fields.

We get ready to cross the Mississippi River and there are a lot of huge cranes. There is a lot of work going on to fix the bridges. Glad we crossed on a Sunday. Cannot imagine what this is like for the work week.