May 12, 2026 – In Ontario
Hi everyone. This is our last day before we leave. I have 2 updates.
1. Ron received another gift from his daughter, Courtney. She has been on the Run a number of time and truly embraces the mission. 2 weeks ago she got married. To let her dad know she will be thinking and praying for him and all the riders, she sent him a gift.
Hi Before I get started, I was asked to pass on the info that the RFTW Facebook Page will be streaming live as was leave Ontario. All 3 routes leave together, so if you get a chance please pull it up.
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Hi everyone. I would like to introduce myself. My name is Jean Gault, aka "Mama G".
This will be a very long post, but I hope you will get a good feeling of what the Run is about, and I hope it will help with understanding the logistics of getting all the riders across the United States.
As we prepared for tomorrow, several of the riders went to Riverside National Cemetery.
Riverside National Cemetery
Google:
Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers 1,250 acres (510 ha), making it the largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration. It has been the most active cemetery in the system since 2000, based on the number of interments.
Riverside National Cemetery is home of the Medal of Honor Memorial, one of four sites in the United States recognized by the U.S. Congress as a National Medal of Honor Memorial Site. The Medal of Honor Memorial walls feature the names of all medal recipients.
The names of over 3500 Medal of Honor recipients is inscribed on the polished granite. The recipients are listed in decoration date order, arranged by conflict period beginning with the Civil War all the way thru Iraq / Afghanistan.
Definition for Medal of Honor:
The highest US military decoration, awarded by Congress to a member of the armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
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On the plaza leading up to the memorial is a symbol for each branch of the military. 
There are the two granite panels as you enter into memorial.
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"For conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity at the risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty"
Guest speaker
Our guest speaker is a Gold Star child from the Vietnam era. Here is his bio (from RFTW site):
Tony Cordero is one of five Gold Star Children of Air Force Major William Cordero who went missing during a June 1965 bombing mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. While Tony’s father is considered to be ‘accounted for’ by DPAA, a menu of unanswered questions – and the absence of any excavation of his father’s crash site in Laos by any US agency – have left the family with questions about the ‘minimal remains’ mysteriously recovered and buried in 1969 in Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1989, Tony founded ‘Sons and Daughters In Touch‘ the nation’s first organization dedicated to supporting America’s Gold Star Children. During the following 37 years, SDIT has located more than 8500 Gold Star Children whose fathers were lost in the Vietnam War and are now remembered on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. In 2003, SDIT led the largest-ever Gold Star Pilgrimage to Vietnam during which 50 ‘sons and daughters’ and 20 Vietnam Veterans spent 18 days traveling from Saigon to Hanoi to stand in the places where their fathers gave their lives. Today, SDIT provides care, community and connections to this Gold Star community, builds bridges with older and younger Gold Star communities, and uplifts all veterans. SDIT was proud to be one of three Honorary Commemorative Partners of the Department of Defense’s recently concluded 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration.
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Tony talked about when they lived in the Philippians, his dad had a motorcycle. He would ride it back and forth for his day serving. When he got home, Tony remembered him giving the kids a ride in the cane fields. There were 5 of them.
The granite walls.
Some of the names we saw were Theodore Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur. Names with stars represent that they have received more than one medal. There are 19.
Mary Edwards was the only female. Single names represent the native Indian. She was not married and had no children.
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In 2015, our FNG year, we had the privilege to ride with Leroy Petry.
He is the third name on the left under Afghanistan.
A comment that was made by a guide several years ago: This is not a medal you want to "win". These people gave of themselves for their fellow Americans. Some have given the ultimate sacrifice: their life.
There are cypress trees all around the Memorial. They are planted in groups of 9 because 9 represented the smallest military unit.
At the Cemetery is a Memorial for POW/MIA. The 9 black solid granite pillars represent prison bars. Inside the statue are water samples from 7 seas. Also rocks from each branch's military chapels are inside.
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For several years RFTW has been has been ask by a lady in Louisville for RFTW to carry POW/MIA flag and book across the US to the Wall. The book represents a Kentucky Vietnam vet that is MIA. The mission is to get it signed by as many people as we can. The book is to let the families know their loved ones are not forgotten. Once we get to the wall, we will bring the book and flag back it will be given to the families.
This year the book if for John Bethel Tapp. It is being carried by FNG Patrick Bullock. Thank you Patrick.
Another memorial we saw was the Veteran Memorial.
Google:
The Statue, an unknown lifeless body of a soldier in which the boots and hands are the only things visibly distinguishable, sits atop a 12-foot pedestal. As the face of the soldier and most of the body is hidden with a large cloak. The unknown soldier represents any man or woman, any rank or division and stands as a silent memorial of every American who has given their lives in combat.
If you ever get a chance to visit Riverside, please do so, it is amazing.
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As I write this every day, I thought I would give you the definition of roles people play to get us cross country. I have also listed the number of how many for each. Here is a list you may want to reference. Remember these are all volunteers.
TEAMS (ahead of the pack)
● Advanced road guard - 8 = first to go out and confirm there are no issues on the roads. Ex: detours, traffic issues, … even have been known to clear some debris off the road to keep us safe. They will also be the ones at all road exchanges, so everyone makes the turns.
● Staging - 25 = Get to the next stop ahead of the pack and set up for each platoon to be staged
● Fuel - 20 = They get to the gas station and clear all pump for the platoons to come in. There is no one at the gas pump when we arrive. They, along with the road guars, direct the pack how to get to the pumps and leaving the pumps
● Ambassador - 15 = Thanking the people on the bridges or in the towns for coming out and supporting the Run.
● Hydration - 3-4 - They carry water, Gatorade, snacks and are at every gas stop. All donated by someone or organization
● Registration - 2-4 = In every city, they are there when we arrive, and every morning before we leave. Since not everyone can ride 10 days, many will ride only a few days. This team gets them signed up.
● Merchandise team - 2 = travels with the Run selling t-shirts and other trinket
● Photographer- 1 =Takes pictures along the way and post to the web site
● Raffle Rousers- 2 = This team will be working all the riders prior to the morning meeting. This is where we will be running 50/50, auctions,.. as our way to raise money.
● Outreach Team - 6
This team will visit Gold Start families. They will go to the family and as they get there, each team member introduces themselves. They will express their condolences for their loss and thank them for service and sacrifice to their country. The Pledge of Allegiance is said and a RFTW pin is given to the family members. There is also a Gold Star patch and a certificate of appreciation from RFTW. A green bracelet is also given as a symbol of hope. They will pray with them and many times cry with them. Thanks, Outreach, for your time with our Gold Star families.
THE PACK FORMATION:
● Road guard - 25-30 = they have many jobs: stop traffic on all entrance ramps, guides us thru towns at each intersection, help direct at fuel stops, and whatever it takes to keep us safe.
● Missing man -5 - Route Coordinator (RC), state coordinator, person representing the missing man, missing man coordinator, chaplain.
● Leadership - 6-8 = Assistant Route coordinator (ARC), mentor (this is the RC from last year), leadership, any dignitary, .... this changes daily. Could be the mayor, POW... we never know who will be there from leg to leg.
● State Coordinator – Total 10 for the length of the Run. Usually 1-2 per state. They work with the local police, state highway patrol, sheriff for escort prior to the Run. Also coordinates with the local town for our meal stops. So, During the Run, they will ride in the leadership group while going thru their state.
● Platoons - 10-15 = each platoon has a platoon leader, assistant platoon leader and 1 tail gunner. In the middle are all the participants. There are usually 10-12 platoons.
● Medical team - 3-4 = there for any injuries or illnesses
● Chaplains - 3-5 = this is a very key role. Many are on this for healing. Many remember comrades lost in war. This is a very emotional trip for everyone.
● Last man - 1 - conveys to RC when the last bike is on the road/ expressway
● Sit Rep Reporter - 1 - This person gives a summary of the day
● Chase vehicles - 3 = They have trailers and will pick up anyone running out of gas (yes this does happen) or breakdowns.
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Totals:
If you add all this up, it is around 120 people that have roles.
Participants = 15-20 per platoon - so 200-250
At any given time, we are at 350-450 riding as a unit.
Additional Terms:
Blue Star Family - a family with a member currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States
Gold Star Family - family member that has died during a Military Operation
FNGs = Fine new guy/gal. We welcome them to the RFTW family. When we see one (they wear pins that have FNG) they get hugs….. Pretty cool to be one as everyone comes to hug you.
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The bikes have banner are them. Here are a few examples:
Lastly for the day was our Central Route all hands meeting. We give everyone a chance to see the volunteers and their roles. One thing CR does is raise money across the country for the kids at Rainelle elementary school in West Virginia. There was a women that we all grew to love. Her love for the Run was infectious. Unfortunately she was killed in a motorcycle accident. Her step-father make this shadow box for her memory. This was auctioned off and the money raised will go to the kids. I am sure she is watching over us as we cross this great country. Rest in Peace Audrey.
Destination: Ontario
Temps: 65-85
Route: na
Miles:na
Live a life worth their Sacrifice
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