Welcome to
Run For The Wall
Southern Route
May 27, 2010
Wytheville, VA, to Roanoke, VA
22 YEARS OF HONOR
Riding in Freedom for Those Who Can't
"Honoring All American Warriors"
Photos and commentary are from Photographer Ed Kain.
Spiller Elementary School served RFTW riders breakfast early on Day Nine. Thanks to all of the volunteers (some of whom have been coming out to help for years and years) for supporting us! Many people have no idea how much effort and expense it takes to provide meals for RFTW riders...but ALL riders appreciate those efforts and expenses on their part!
Left, the Vice-Mayor, Jacqueline K. King, has been an annual volunteer.
Above, right, some of the riders in Withers Park. Below, left, our Aussie friend who rode with RFTW two years ago and was injured while riding to a function in Wytheville. He is marrying one of the nurses who cared for him in the hospital here. Below, right, the Class of May 17th FNGs.
Below, an "assassination attempt" with foam "bullets" on our Route Coordinator by the "usual suspects."
One surprise after another...Frenchy had special t-shirts from Cajun Country created and gave them to Preacher and Too Tall. Below, left, the 10th anniversary is usually represented by aluminum, so aluminum dogtags showed up by the kindergarten's handmade flag. Below, right, Platoon Two leader, assistant leader, and two tail gunners.
Above, left, the group shot of Platoon Three. Above, right, Platoon Five leadership. Below, left, is Platoon Three leadership. Spiller Elementary students always enjoy visiting with the riders, many of whom bring special gifts to hand to the children.
Above, left, the Platoon One leadership; Krash, the Tailgunner, was off somewhere. Above, right, the breakfast volunteers were finally able to rest! Below, left, the students assembled, and Mayor Trent Crewe spoke. Below, right, Assistant Principal, Kimley Frye.
Above, Wytheville's local ROTC Honor Guard presented the colors, and a local singer offered the National Anthem.
Left and below, left, the RFTW Honor Guard presented the wreath at the Veterans' Memorial in Withers Park. A representative of the local American Legion played Taps. Below, right, Spiller Elementary's Principal Kim Ingo.
Students always give an emotional performance with music and patriotic passage. The young man at the left is a graduating senior this year and gave a beautiful rendition of the song, "More Than A Name on The Wall." Below, center, Mrs. Leslie Mabe, Spiller's Music Teacher who conducted the Choir.
The students above did a rendition of what they had performed in "Fiddler on The Roof." Right, another student reading. Below, Too Tall presented a RFTW plaque of appreciation, Larry "Stepper" Rodgers' scholarship gift, and the donation from the riders to Spiller Elementary.
Right, Mayor Trent Crewe offered closing remarks before we left Wytheville.
Below, at the entrance to Montvale Elementary School, Jerry McNelly sat down with a family and their sign. It always seems like the whole school is "out front" waiting to greet the riders!
Above, a WWII veteran joined many families waiting to greet us at Montvale Elementary. Above, right, Montvale's Music Teacher, Ms. Cathy Epps, is retiring this year...we'll really miss her! Below, the Jr. ROTC Color Guard unit being briefed by their instructor. Below, right is the "Scout Road Guard," Gene Adee leading the pack.
Above, the Lead Element with Too Tall riding on the right. Right, Della "Pockets" Morris, Missing Man Coordinator, and one of the 17 Chaplains riding this year. This is always an AWESOME greeting for the riders of RFTW-SR! Below, right, is the Wall of Honor which is a tradition at Montvale Elementary. Local veterans are honored there, as well as RFTW veterans who are riders.
Many of the riders who had visited Montvale before ate in the cafeteria; they tried to have FNGs experience the delight of eating in the classrooms with the students. Below, left, Jim "Stoney" Stone reconnected with a friend from past years, as did some of the other returning riders.
Above, $5 Marty took advantage of a moment to rest. Students had fun meeting our chase dog, Sgt. Cash, owned by Hard Charger. Below, left, Slammer with a returning friend. Below, right, Jerry Weiers, the AZ State Representative, with US Army Brig. Gen. Tucker of the Virginia National Guard.
The students did the wave, and then Hard Charger presented Sgt. Cash to all of the students as they waited for the rest of the RFTW riders to arrive in the gym. Below, right, the Jr. ROTC Color Guard did a fine job!
Above and below, parts of the excellent program presented by Montvale Elementary students.
Too Tall, above, right, "relaxing." Below, right, Brig. Gen. Tucker addressed the group. Below, right, a flag made of student hand prints was displayed.
Too Tall presented a RFTW plaque of appreciation, Larry "Stepper" Rodgers' scholarship gift, and the donation from the riders, as well as a United States map created by one of the riders to Montvale Elementary Principal, Ms. Janet Brouhard. Below, left, three of Virginia's finest with Jerry Weiers. Below, right, all of the RFTW-SR riders at the D-Day Memorial.
Above, left, the riders who went "All The Way" (minus the photographer, Ed Kain). Above, right, the Road Guard Team.
Run For The Wall wishes to express its deepest appreciation to ALL supporters, from those who provide support standing beside the road or on overpass bridges as we pass by to those who provide financial support. As always, it is impossible to know and thank all of the kind folks who help us as we cross the United States. Today, in Virginia, a few of the supporters included:
Virginia -
Spiller Primary School, Wytheville, VA
Montvale Elementary School, Montvale, VA
Virginia Veterans Care Center, Roanoke, VA
Virginia State Police, Division #6, Salem, VA
DAV #3, Salem, VA
DAV #14, Salem, VA
SGT Dan Jessee 412, Virginia State Police
RFTW State Coordinator for Virginia, Bob "Zoom" Atwell
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Day 9, Thursday, May 27, 2010
Good morning Run for the Wall Day 9. Well, here’s what you have been waiting for, Part II of our fabulous stop in Wytheville, VA. Riders were up early and headed to Memorial Park to stage their bikes and then it was off to Spiller Elementary School for breakfast in the cafeteria.
After breakfast the riders reassembled at Memorial Park for their Riders and then Platoon Meetings. Many thanks to the Gatorade factory for the many flavored drinks provided to the riders for hydration.
…and now the time has come for the student body of Spiller Elementary School to come over the hill for their morning presentation to the riders. The Color Guard was provided by the JROTC of Wytheville and there was an assortment of songs sung by the student body. Once the formal ceremony was completed, the riders mingled with the students, passing out trinkets and engaging in chit-chat with everyone there. It is our understanding that Spiller Elementary School is right in the middle of their testing week, now that Run for the Wall comes through we hope we have not distracted the students from achieving the highest possible scores on their test.
We would like to thank the teachers and staff of Spiller Elementary School for instilling the patriotic pride that each student shows. As I have said many times before, we need to clone Wytheville and send its people throughout our Nation so they can rediscover true patriotism.
In our departing tradition, the students filled in the bleachers at the park, while the riders moved out onto the street for final staging. We don’t know which was louder, the students shouting to the riders or the riders revving their engines for the students. For now we will call that one a draw.
There never seems to be enough time to do all the things we want while in Wytheville, so… we would like to encourage any rider who has some additional time left after completing the Run that they return to Wytheville and enjoy the sights and people. Mayor Trent Crewe told the riders about the Wytheville Museum that features history of the town from way back when with all its artifacts and a special section dedicated to Run for the Wall. Several of the riders quotes about what Wytheville means to them appear on the displays in the museum. It is amazing how much information can be put into such a small building with such a huge history. It is our understanding that this display will be open to the public for the next six months. Thank you citizens of Wytheville for honoring Run for the Wall.
Two people instrumental in making our trip through Virginia and specifically Wytheville very pleasurable, is past Virginia State Coordinator, Laurie Clay and the current State Coordinator, Bob Atwell. Laurie’s and Bob’s RFTW vests are on display at the Museum too. Over the past decade Bob and Laurie have made Virginia one of the greatest states to travel through. Each rider present today was presented a commemorative 10th Anniversary Patch for Run for the Wall from Wytheville. We were the first to see it and the first to receive it and now the patches will be available in the future for purchase by the riders.
Reluctantly departing Wytheville, the riders headed north on I-81 for their next stop in Montvale, VA. After a quick gas-and-go, the riders formed up for the 1.3 mile ride to Montvale Elementary School, complete with helicopter escort. The riders were greeted by the “Little Patriots” of Montvale School, who were lining the sidewalk anxiously awaiting the arrival of the riders. After parking their bikes and exchanging knick-knacks with the students, they proceeded inside for lunch. A special treat for the FNG’s… they were directed to various classrooms throughout the school where they shared lunch with the students at their desks. The veteran riders remained in the cafeteria. After lunch all riders proceeded down the hallway, which by the way, honors the veterans of Run for the Wall, with their own Wall of Honor. This Wall of Honor depicts the names of riders past and present. Some of the school staff were adding names of our new visitors to Montvale. Once inside the gymnasium, the children prepared a fitting patriotic musical performance as a salute to Run for the Wall. The songs were performed by the entire student body under the direction Miss Eppes who we understand will be retiring later this coming year (we are hoping we heard wrong, but if not…). Miss Eppes and the entire staff of Montvale School should be commended for their outstanding support of Run for the Wall. Miss Eppes, if you retire before RFTW returns in 2011, we hope that you will take time to come back and visit us and watch from the other side as the students you have taught over the years perform for us. We wish you the best from all of us on Run for the Wall.
After lunch and the performances by the students, the riders proceeded by their bikes, only to be delayed by the students riding busses departing the school grounds, hanging out the window high-fiving the riders as they departed and giving one final cheer to RFTW. Once all the busses cleared the school grounds, the riders, under continued escort by Virginia State Police, departed for the D-Day Memorial. A short run down the highway brings you to a magnificent structure dedicated to that infamous day, June 6, 1944 when Allied Forces landed at Normandy. The Memorial is an outstanding depiction of a beach landing by soldiers complete with landing craft, simulated explosions, and several warriors scaling a wall as they landed at Normandy.
As a note: We are losing thousands of WWII veterans each and every week, so as we approach Memorial Day, take some extra time and seek out one of our warriors from the greatest generation.
One in particular we met at Montvale Elementary; former Chief Petty Officer, Frank Thomas. He was born on September 28, 1919 and served aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He is also a Plankowner of that vessel. For those of you not familiar with Navy tradition, a Plankowner is a member of the commissioning crew of that particular vessel. In olden days, with the sailing ships, when an original crew member departed he was given a small piece of the ship – like a piece of the plank - as a small token of their service, thus today we have the term “Plankowner”.
Editor’s Note: The USS Yorktown fought courageously at Pearl Harbor and also suffered major damage at the battle of the Coral Sea. Even after being heavily damaged, it managed to sail under its own power back to Pearl Harbor for repairs and back into action at the battle of Midway. That is your history lesson for today.
After departing the D-Day Memorial, still under escort by the Virginia State Police, the riders proceeded to the Salem VA Medical Center for dinner and to meet some of the residents of the facility.
Day 9 was short in miles but high in emotion after spending so much time with the children and then visiting the D-Day Memorial. Most of the riders have now settled in for the evening in preparation for Day 10 and the final Run into Washington, D.C.
Respectfully submitted by
Steve “Hawgwash” Hill
MSgt. USMC (Ret.)
