RFTW - SR
Day 11
Arlington National Cemetery
and
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall)
May 28, 2011
RUN FOR THE WALL – SR – MISSION COMPLETED, Saturday, May 29, 2011
Saturday (AM) - Several events are scheduled today: FNG Ride to Arlington National Cemetery, Group photo on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and the presentation of the MISSION COMPLETED plaque at the Apex of the WALL. Many riders will be on the National Mall visiting other Memorials…later on in the evening a dinner will be hosted for both routes by the Arlington Assembly of God Church a few miles from the host hotel. These wonderful people have opened the campus of the church year after year for camping and actually serve other meals to the riders throughout the weekend. Holly and I have parked the motor home there for several years and we certainly appreciate their hospitality. On Sunday morning many riders will form up for the short ride to the Pentagon parking lot to stage for Rolling Thunder…
Well…it has been a 10 day cross country mission….for many, their first time with us. Our FNG’s did us proud. You have now earned the right of passage…to call yourself a Veteran of Run For the Wall. Regardless of why you chose to join us, we hope that it was an experience that will last you a lifetime. For those that never received the welcome home you richly deserved, we hope it offered you a chance to continue the healing process.
For the next couple of days, riders will be attending various events around the Nation’s Capitol…from the Evening Parade at Marine Barracks, Washington, DC. - to visiting Arlington National Cemetery or taking a stroll along the Mall to visit many of the monuments.
Along with the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial (The WALL), we hope you take the time to visit the WW II Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.
All too soon it will be time for the riders to head back to the 4 corners of this great country; to reflect on the past 10 plus days and to hopefully carry a message back that we are still demanding that our country account for the POW’s and MIA’s from all wars. Until that day comes, we still have a mission to complete. Ten days go by very quickly. Now each of you must decide how to integrate them into the remaining 355 days.
To the members of the Leadership Team, Platoon Leaders, Assistant Platoon Leaders, Tail Gunners, Chaplain Corps, Ambassadors, our Hydration and Advance Teams, our Fuel Crew and especially our Road Guards…THANK YOU for being a part of this great mission.
To Richard Moore...”Preacher” You have joined an elite group of leaders that have lead us from L.A. to D.C. Thank you for everything….You have completed your Mission.
I would also like to thank the many pairs of eyes that contributed significantly to this year’s SitRep:
MGySgt Tim Gerdes, USMC “Six Shooter”
I met Tim a year ago in Monroe…We immediately bonded - I guess that is a Marine thing. Just after the Run, he was promoted to MGySgt (E-9). I am honored to call him a brother and I am extremely grateful that we both took a moment in Monroe to engage in some small talk while waiting for the riders to come in.
Greg Smith “Pied Piper”
I’ve known Greg for several years now and have come to appreciate his candor and the way he conducted himself as a past Run Coordinator. Always willing to listen, always willing to do anything to make the Run a better event and being a friend to all.
and
Mayor Trent Crewe, Wytheville, VA “Mr. Mayor”
Wow...what can I say about Trent that you do not know already. I love him like a brother.
We are always communicating with each other outside the Run….catching up on events and basically checking on each other’s welfare. Holly and I have had the pleasure of spending additional time in Wytheville after the Run with Trent and his family. One year we stayed for several weeks and I can tell you this…Wytheville was just as exciting during that time also. I attribute a lot of that to the leadership of “the Mayor”, always looking out for his city and always making each visitor feel like that are at home.
Holly Thomas “Shooter” for being my chief Editor. We have done the SitReps for many years now and she takes the ideas I come up with and dot the “I’s” and cross’ the “T’s” and then insure they are uploaded to the main website. I couldn’t even begin to take on the task without her by my side.
To all the riders who uploaded pictures from both routes to social networking sites and for the RFTW website…Thank you…you gave a pictorial view of the Run for all of our followers.
To the many thousands of you out there that lined the highways, stood on overpasses, met us at all the stops…whether to feed us…fuel us up…or to just be there...we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have shown everyone that there is still a quality in America worth fighting for.
For Shirley Scott, “Top Sarge” I can’t even begin to imagine the emotions you felt during the Run and Holly and I want to thank you personally for all you have done over the years. During these difficult days you have held your head high…you have made sure everything went like clockwork from Pre-registration until the final rider parked their bike in Arlington, VA. You are one special Lady.
..and finally...to the children -You will be our legacy - Long after those of us on the Run are gone you will be carrying our message on to the future generations. It may seem hard to understand right now but as you grow older you will fully understand the meaning of Run For the Wall and all the contributions you made that just made a Veteran feel good.
That is a PRICELESS contribution.
I will close by saying two words…long time coming for many of you and I hope you will hear them often from now on…
“WELCOME HOME..!”
Steve Hill, MSgt USMC (retired), “Hawgwash”
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Special thanks to Washington, D.C. Coordinator, John Gosser.
We welcome any photos from these two events taken by RFTW riders which mirror the purpose of our mission to be sent to the webmistress. Thanks!
The following photos were sent by Lynn "Ticket Mama" Fouraker:
Cheryl "Raven" Norman sent the following photos of the RFTW wreath presentation at Arlington National Cemetery and of RFTW plaque presentation and visit to The Vietnam Veterans Memorial...The Wall.
We all owe our freedoms to young men like SSGT Tim Chambers and their families. Thank you!!
