Day #9 Wytheville, VA to Lynchburg, VA

 The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten - Calvin Coolidge

This ride has proven to me that our defenders have not been forgotten. The American people love and  support its veterans and activity military. Yet, there are many veterans that don't know. As part of this year's Memorial Day celebration, share this blog. 

Today we rode through some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. Green rolling hills, beautiful vistas with lush green hill sides. If it were like this all year it would be a nice place to live. 

I have been super impressed with how well organized the Run for the Wall is. Each route has a coordinator who I guess over sees everything for their route. Then there are various committees I guess you could call them. 

There is the advance team, they wear blue hats. They ride ahead of the pack and man the gas pumps and the staging areas. There are nine platoons, the first day you pull in you are assigned to a platoon. You place a sticker on your left hand window and from then on when you pull into the staging area you are directed to your platoon's staging area. 

If the advance team doesn't have to rush to the next stop, they honor the veterans as they ride by. This run to the wall would not be possible if it weren't for these hard working volunteers. 

Then there's the road guards. These guys are just plain crazy!!!! They are the traffic controllers. They are up super early and stand on the corners near each hotel guiding the riders to the morning staging area. They control traffic, blocking intersections and highway on ramps while we are en route. They also help in the staging area getting the bikes where they need to be. 

I'll have to work on getting better pictures of the road guards tomorrow. They are super hard working dogs! 

Today was a fun day, we visited two schools, Spiller Elementary and Montvale Elementary. Both schools are doing an excellent job teaching their students love of country and patriotism.

I am going to jump to Today's heroes. If I don't get to bed earlier I am going to fall asleep and fall off the bike.

Today WE were joined by some young Veterans. They are my heroes for serving their country!!!!

These young vets said to me, "we've got to get more young guys coming". Get the word out folks, let the young veterans know about Run for the Wall.

And one more hero, meet Dennis

Dennis was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. Dennis' wife told me, he had to eject twice from an airplane and was offered a Purple Heart but he refused it. A True American Hero! Dennis is still unable to visit the wall. 

Tomorrow is the selection process for which of the FNG's get to ride into Arlington. RFTW is the only organization that is allowed to ride motorcycles into Arlington. They are only given passes for 400 motorcycles. The 400 are divided amongst the three routes. Apparently those that have ridden "All the way" meaning all the way from Rancho Cucamonga are amongst the first to be allowed in. We're hoping we get to go. 

Well, until tomorrow. God Bless America, Land that I love, stand beside her, and guide her.....

finish it for me, I am too tired.