Day #6 Monroe LA to Meridian MS

I know this may seem impossible but today was bigger and grander than all the previous days put together. I will attempt to share with you what the riders experienced today. I fear unless you go on a Ride For the Wall you will never understand what an amazing experience it is. 

Today's Hero Board

First I was very humbled today to be in the presence of some super American Heroes!!! Jackson, Mississippi hosted lunch for us. They flew in some American dignitaries and heroes. Steve L. Munro, director of US Veterans Affairs spoke to the group. Today's tip of the day comes from Steve. 

"Son, keep your head down and your ass up. We can patch your ass up all day long"

The next speaker was Lt. Thomas R. Norris, Medal of Honor recipient for his ground rescue of two downed pilots in Vietnam on April 10, 1972. After the meeting we went to meet him. He hugged me and thank Don and I for going on the ride. He was so incredibly humble telling us that he didn't do anything anybody else wouldn't do. I pointed to the medal hanging around his neck and said, 

this says otherwise." He was so kind and very humble and while he looked frail he had a very strong voice and presence. 

Later in the day I found myself conversing with two GOLD STAR Mothers. Wow, talk about sacrificing for your country. It was so humbling being in their presence. Both beautiful women that love their country and their sons. 

        Wilma Allen - me - Dianne Layfield 

Jackson,  Mississippi has a welcoming committee like nothing I have ever seen. The police escorts were beyond spectacular!!! You get 60 - 70 motor officers riding in a block formation with their blue lights flashing it gets your attention. 

Then you throw in FIVE helicopters. According to my in the know husband flying over head was a UH1, a Cobra, and a Cessna L19 Bird dog plus a police helicopter or two. I tried to get some good shots. The problem is I took 368 shots. It's going to take some time to find the really good ones. 

What the pictures don't get across is the noise of these powerful machines, both the motorcycles and the helicopters. Then you throw in the occasional cannon fire. Oh, I forgot to mention the cannon lining the road that were fired here and there. Then there were the flag waving people, that seemed to be EVERYWHERE! 

This is a day I will never forget. 

One of the nicest most touching things I have seen were the two women in Miridian, Mississippi collecting riders dirty laundry which they will wash and return in the morning at 5 am clean. I cannot EVER remember anyone offering to wash my dirty clothes. Much less hundreds of strangers. 

Then there's the people we have met. 

Cute Deb pledges that served us water and dessert. 

Spoon & Jim that have been riding with us since the beginning.

I am going to end tonight with how we begin every morning with a little bio or story telling why we ride. 

This gentlemen here is good friends with SSG Robert F. Scherdin and SSG Richard J Lacey both been MIA since 1968. Which is why he rides. 

I experienced so much more today that I have not the energy or time to share. Please check in tomorrow.

I am posting through out the day on Facebook Page - Riding For the Wall and on Twitter @rideforthewall. 

Till tomorrow. 

Day #5 Grand Prairie TX to Monroe LA

Another great day to be an American!!!!

The day began with church in the Wal-Mart Parking lot. Not something I am used to but it works.

Had our morning meeting where Pops, the Southern Route Coordinator introduced Shane & Katelyn Esser. They were married May 17, 2013 the day before Shane shipped out to the sandbox. They were not at the morning meeting, arrived late after their anniversary celebration. Shane is taking Katelyn to the wall so she can look up her grandfather who died in Vietnam 1969.  I am sure Shane has his personal reasons for Riding to the Wall.  Aren't they adorable!

Our first stop after the gas stop (which was paid for by a Patriotic American) was in Terrell Texas. Wow!!!!  The community went all out! They made homemade PBJs, chicken salad sandwiches, cookies. They were handing out poppies, which I am always thrilled to see. One very touching item was the prayers they gave us. Someone took a lot of time to cut out the fabric squares, to surge the edges and then to write a prayer on every single one. Wow, is that not the most toughing thing? 

On the road again to Longview, TX for gas and lunch.

 Longview gave the Run for the Wall a real Patriotic welcome. 

Longview also set out a delicious spread of homemade cookies, and sandwiches. Each of us was given a handwritten thank you note from the local junior high school students. We were also given a gift bag with a dog tag, a pony bead lanyard of the American Flag and a yellow pony bead lanyard. I posted a video of the luncheon on Facebook Page  - Riding for the Wall - it shows better than anything I can write the warm reception we were given. Check it out. 

Not long after leaving Longview, we crossed the border into Louisiana. Once we crossed the state line we were joined by the Louisiana State Police. The escorted us all the way to Monroe. What a fine job they did. It is not easy to get 300 motorcycles down the road. They were magnificent

I just love our uniformed escorts!!!!

This morning a Vietnam Veteran's wife and I were talking, she told me, "my husband feels like The Run to the Wall" is the homecoming he never got. 

After her comment, it all clicked for me. We drive from town to town where the riders are welcomed home with great fanfare. The out pouring of genuine love, admiration, appreciation and respect is over whelming.  

Later in the day I received a message from a young Afghanistan veteran. He said, "If every veteran could see your blog, I know there would not be a shred of doubt among us that our sacrifices were worth it. There would be no veteran suicides due to PTSD because the overwhelming patriotism would drive out all the demons. I wish I could personally thank and hug every rider and every person in every town that has supported you guys" 

That pretty much sums up the "Reason we Ride"

Once we crossed into Louisiana every bridge held grateful Americans waving flags, waving or saluting. I took 164 pictures today because I just had to photograph every single bridge! 

Here are a few. I hope this is shared with every Veteran so they too can feel the love and appreciation of a grateful nation. 

Oh, I almost forgot,  Tip-of-the-day: Watch for gators on the road. I morning I am looking all over for alligators. Hahaha, a gator is the big hung of tire when a semi has a blow out. 

Until tomorrow. 

Day 4 Odessa TX to Prairie TX

Wow, What a day!!!!

Began at the usual 5am. It's getting harder to get up. Made it to the staging area on time and inside the American Legion Post 340 for a delicious breakfast of... you guessed it, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns all homemade by the post members. I tried to hold back, only half a biscuit.

Met a few interesting characters, there's the General, he made us the "FNG" bead lanyard. See the little dog in the picture with him. That's driver, she has been on seven rides with him. Rides on the front of his bike. I will try to get a picture of them on their bike tomorrow. I love the goggles!

I began wondering why we were having these wreath laying ceremonies every single day, sometimes a couple a day. Then today I had the honor of participating in one. Made a difference, now I get it 

I saw the faces of the Vietnam Veterans as the wreath was laid and as they came up to the monument to trace their finger across the map of Vietnam. These veterans have not had or in some cases taken the opportunity to deal with that time of their life. This ride gives them 11 days of being with like minded people that love and support them and allow them to feel the love, pride and support of the American people. 

I had a Vietnam Veteran tell me a few days ago that whenever he begins to feel out of sorts he knows it's time to go on another run for the wall. 

The favorite part of my day was visiting Colorado City, Texas, a small town of 5 square miles and a population of 2,000 people. 

What the town did the the riders was a miracle. First off when we pulled in to "filler er up" the gas was paid for. Come to find out, the citizens of Colorado City paid for it. The fire department hung a huge flag to welcome us. Lunch was delicious, steak, chicken, potato salad and the most delicious bacon wrapped poppers I have ever tasted. Then they had a program with tap dancers, violin solo, a community band, students shared their veteran biographies and a Boy Scout leader sang, Proud to be an American. Wasn't a dry eye in the place. Colorado City wins for most patriotic city visited to date. I hear Tennessee is quite amazing. 

So here's a couple shots from Colorado City.

And finally, I thought it was time to talk motorcycles, but to tell you the truth I am so tired. I think I will save it for tomorrow. Here's a shot of Kenny on his bike. Can you name the bike? Kenny is a very nice Vietnam Vet from Colorado State. 

Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors, I am just too tired to care. For current on the ride information follow us on twitter @rideforthewall or Facebook page Ridingforthewall

I am better about posting on the fly throughout the day. 

Good night.

Day 3 - Las Cruces NM to Odessa TX

It is so hard to condense a 15 hour day into a couple of paragraphs. I'll do my best to help you experience what we have seen today. Let's talk food, always a favorite of mine. Since this ride began three days ago I have not purchased a single meal. All the meals on the ride are donated by local communities, American Legion Posts, Churches, Elks Lodges, local restaurants. These folks are preparing a meal for over 300 people that swoop in eat in about 30 minutes and are on the road again. Talk about, "they come they eat, they leave". We are a group of over 300 people and all the food is donated!!!!

We're not talking spam and beans, this is some great food!!! Just today for breakfast we had biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs, orange juice. It was great biscuits and gravy. Lunch was B-B-Q chicken, baked beans and hubby's favorite the homemade peach cobbler and then on to dinner, fried chicken, fried cat fish, hush puppies, french fries and homemade ice cream. Unbelievable generosity!!!  Don't drool on your computer screen as you check out the foodie photos.

Today's Hero Board is all the fine people in America that feed us great hot meals three times a day for 10 days. God Bless You!!!! 

It seems like fellow riders are always sharing little trinkets, mementos that have some meaning. Sometimes the meaning is clear, sometimes not. 

The little Texas POW/MIA pin came from our Platoon Leader, Mojo, she is from Texas. She left it on the seat of everyone's bike while we were at breakfast. 

The 2014 FNG beads came from General, he makes up a bunch of them and gives them to all the FNG's. What's an FNG??? a Fine new guy or gal>

The POW bracelet is from an MIA family that made these bracelets for SGT Bowe Berghdahl a POW since 6/30/09 held by the Taliban in possibly Pakistan. Google his name if you're interested. 

And the sticker is from a guy that was walking up and down the rows of bikes asking for someone in the Navy. I told him my son-in-law was in the Navy, he handed e the sticker and walked away. Not sure what was up with that but Billy is getting a sticker. 

Until tomorrow, I wish I could tell you about the war memorial we visited or the veterans I spoke with today. Naybe when I get home and I am not so tired. Until tomorrow. 

Day 2 - 330 miles, Phoenix AZ to Las Cruces NM

Another emotionally charged today. The community support and out reach has been heart warming. The streets lined with flag waving Americans. I cry every time we get off the freeway.  And then the people that line the overpasses. Hundreds of them through out the day. The most emotional are the single men standing on the side saluting. I haven't been able to get a picture. It's hard to see them until we have just about passed by. Enjoy this bridge shot. 

Today's Hero Board:

The citizens of Wilcox, AZ for unbelievable patriotism. 

It is so hard to choose one or two heroes to share with you from the hundreds of experiences and people we meet everyday. 

This is LCPL Travis Layfield, I met his mother, Diane Layfield at the end of the day when we were checking into the hotel. A Gold Star Mother from California. She shared with me her son's story and we cried together. She gave me this button to wear on my vest. I am honored!!!! 

I did not think it possible but I have a deeper love and appreciation for our veterans, our active military and their families. I know, how can that be possible? 

Well, tomorrow looks like another hot one. We have been told that by tomorrow our formations need to be super tight. Only two seconds between bikes. Driving through El Paso, Texas is going to be hairy. 

Day 1 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA to Phoenix, AZ

Today was beyond belief. I have cried, laughed, sweated, met new friends and heard some incredible stories. It has been a long day and tomorrow is going to be the same. I have so much to share. I will try to be brief so I can sleep and you won't be bored. 

Let's start with the tip-of-the-day: when the 10 minute horn blows you better have a full tank of gas and an empty bladder. Good stuff to know. 

Our first gas up was an experience, truly an organizational miracle, 200+ bikes gassed and back on the road in 30 minutes.  There are so many bikes and they pull in so close, it gets a little hairy. When we stopped in Blythe while waiting in line to get gas, I jumped off the bike ran into the mini-market bought two Diet Cokes and was back on the bike before Don was finished gassing up. So happy to get my diet coke fix. 

I think I'll finish today's blog post with a:

Today's Heroes Board

Meet Sam-he served 32 years in Vietnam and Desert Storm. Recipient of 4 Purple Hearts. Sam is super friendly and has been very kind to us. 

Meet Cory - he served 10 tours in Afghanistan before suffering a serious injury. Cory was brought to the dinner in Phoenix by his parents. What a sacrifice this family has made. 

We met so many heroes today and heard so many stories. I can't blog them all. I will have to save some of them for "Riding For The Wall - The Book". Hopefully it will be out this year. 

I am grateful to participate in this year's ride to the wall. I am humbled to see and hear the sacrifices made by so many so I can enjoy the wonderful blessing of living in this free country. Please share the two heroes I have posted here don't let their service be forgotten or go unnoticed. Until tomorrow! 

Check-In

Tip-of-the-day:  Forget about mascara for the next 10 days and carry a handkerchief. I was told this as I stood there crying. 

Shirley, a very kind efficient volunteer checked us in. When she was done placing our wristbands on and explaining the rules of the road she handed me a sticker and said, 

"this is why we ride" The sticker (pictured below) Is of a young man named Bowe who was captured in Afghanistan June 30, 2009. Shirley went on to tell us the terrorists bring him out and parade him around occasionally. 

My eyes welled up with tears. Imagine if this were your son. I would move heaven and earth for my child. I don't understand why something can't be done to help this young man who has been in captivity for nearly 5 years. Breaks my heart. I also don't understand why every tree in America does not have a yellow ribbon tied around it. What am I missing? 

Then I was given a plastic arm band with the name, Sgt Joseph A. Matejov, living casulaty, USAF 2-5-73 Laos. What the heck is a living casualty? Makes me sad for the loved ones that have no closure. 

Just a couple stories that we heard today. So I am leaving the mascara in the make-up bag and keeping my handkerchief close. 

Staging tomorrow at 5:45 am :( I am not a morning person, it's gonna be a challenge.