Welcome to
Run For The Wall
Southern Route
May 19, 2010
Rancho Cucamonga, CA to
Tolleson, AZ
22 YEARS OF HONOR
Riding in Freedom for Those Who Can't
"Honoring All American Warriors"
On Day One, May 19, temperatures started out chilly and progressed to "hot, hot, hot." Thanks to Ed Kain for all of his photography work with comments, too!
Above, bikes lined up at the morning staging in Rancho Cucamonga. Above, right, the Montclair, CA, Pomona Valley Harley-Davidson folks brought water, as well as things they thought maybe the riders had forgotten. Below, left, ABATE provided coffee and refreshments. Below, right, the Christian Motorcycle Association provided a breakfast burrito, sausage, hash browns, and more. Thanks to ALL who made such wonderful donations for our send-off!
Above, left, and right, Southern Route Lead Element bikes lined up...Too Tall's bike is the beautifully-decorated one, and the gray one to the left is Preacher's. (At least one of the Chaplains does ride a Harley!) Below, left, the SR Registration team of Val "Stitch" McClymonds and Shirley "Top Sarge" Scott. They look happy to get Day One started, even though this is a rare lull in the action! Below, right, is Jim Baker from Surprise, AZ...a couple of years ago, he brought along a mechanics' trailer which really helped! He can't do that anymore, but he IS riding with SR...welcome back, Jim!!
Above, Scruggs and Adams played a bit this morning for us, in spite of electronics problems. Amy Scruggs sang national anthem, again doing a great job! Right, Amy with Jerry "Bookman" McNelly. Below, left, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department's Honor Guard; their work was very precise! At right, just a few of the local law enforcement personnel without which doing the RFTW would be impossible! Thank you ALL!!!
Above, Too Tall claps for the Honor Guard. Left, riders listening at the Riders' Meeting (mandatory every morning...especially for updates on procedures and plans for the day). Over 300 were registered to leave on SR today...more than last year. Below, right, is a platoon meeting; they always take place after the riders' meeting.
Below, the pack riding toward the first stop is at Coachella's TA Truck Stop...looking good, considering that the journey has just begun and there was construction to ride through! Below, right, is Too Tall with Jerry Weiers, the State Representative for AZ District 12. Jerry rode next to Too Tall is the Lead Element through AZ today (that position was yielded by SC Jerry McNelly).
Above, riders at the Coachella meeting for SR.
Left, Richard "Preacher" Moore, Ass't SR Coordinator.
Right, Ray "Too Tall" McDowell, SR Coordinator.
Right, the pack is welcomed into Blythe, CA. Look at the flags and folks along the route...Blythe really goes all out to greet RFTW, and they really APPRECIATE the welcome!
Below are the trikes/bikes with trailers coming into Blythe. The Palo Verde High School Junior ROTC greeted all of the riders with a double-columned "attention" and a sword salute. WOW!
Left, lunch at the Fairgrounds.
Below, the Junior ROTC Color Guard.
Right, Pastor Bergen gave the invocation, too.
Left, Mayor Joey Decuta. Above, Wally Morgan, WW II vet and former POW. Below, left, Jerry Wolford, WW II vet. Aaron Freeman, right, was Master of Ceremonies.
Above, left, Major General Tom Clifford, US Air Force, Ret. He led the students (below) as they gave the Missing Man table demonstration. Floyd Marlowe, above right, is the owner of Sizzler Primary and is the man responsible for organizing the Blythe program; click here for another photo. Thank you so very much!
Right, the pack moves toward the afternoon fuel stop at Tonopah, AZ. Notice the Lead Element which in the Missing Man formation all the way across the United States. Looking at this photo, the spot held sacred for the Missing Man is behind the first bike on the left (usually, the State Coordinator rides there, and the Route Coordinator is on the right). The rider protecting the Missing Man spot is on the right behind "Too Tall." Behind the sacred spot is Della Morris, Missing Man Coordinator. We're not sure who is on the right rear of this formation. Below, more riders entering AZ.
Above, the fuel stop at Tonopah, AZ. The Fuel Crew deserves so much credit for getting the pack in and out of fuel stops in an orderly fashion...especially on this first day of getting accustomed to the procedures! Below is Ass't. Road Guard Captain, Dave Cappel.
Riders line up at the pumps in double lines. When paying, they round up to the nearest dollar...no change is made. This helps pay for the chase and other official vehicles as RFTW crosses the United States. Below, right, Arizona DPS with Jerry Weiers, the State Representative for AZ District 12 on the white Harley in the middle; Congressman Weiers helped arrange the DPS escort. Again, we're grateful!!! On the red Harley is Arizona State Coordinator, Jerry McNelly.
Below, at the Tolleson Hotel, dinner was offered by the Church in the Son out of Phoenix (led by Pastor Ruth). It was a wonderful dinner with quite a variety of choices...thank you!!!
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. However, here is a list of special people and organizations who helped us in California:
Blythe Area Chamber of Commerce
Sizzler USA
Arrowhead Water
US Foods
Blythe Police Department
Riverside County Sheriff's Dept., River Valley Station
California Highway Patrol, Blythe Station
Blythe Fire Department
Casa Colina
Catherin Blades, VP Raytheon SAS Communications
Desert Air Ambulance
Colorado River Country Fair
Christian Motorcycle Association, San Diego
Daniel Lopresto
Floyd Marlowe
Janet White
Spotlight 29 Casino
Yellow Ribbon Committee of Blythe
RFTW California State Coordinator, Jim "The Mayor" Frost
RFTW Arizona State Coordinator, Jerry "Bookman" McNelly
Information received on 5/22/10:
Here are three links to hundreds of pics and videos that we take and post every year in Las Cruces NM. May 20th and 21st 2010.
We do not copy write any photo because we want all to share with the world.
George "Dusty" Bayley - President
Rolling Thunder® Inc. Chapter 1 NM
http://www.rollingthundernm1.org
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Day 1, Wednesday, May 19, 2010 Sit Reps
Up and at ‘em early this morning. Final preparations began in earnest for the first leg of our ten day journey. A joint meeting was held with both routes at the Victoria Gardens Mall with final briefings and opening ceremonies and a fly-over during Taps and then it is off to Coachella, California.
We would like to wish our Brothers and Sisters on the Central Route smooth highways, a wind at their back, and a safe ride across the heartland. To our leader…Ray “Too Tall” McDowell, you are about the join an elite group that has lead us before. Remember as you are looking back, we are with you 100% in our quest to make this a memorable run. The first leg of Day 1 brings us to Coachella, California for fuel, hydration and the first 2010 Southern Route riders meeting. Everybody has settled into their Platoons and it is off to Blythe, California for lunch.
Blythe, CA has become a favorite stop for the riders, not just because it is a break from riding in the heat, but because of all the citizens that line the streets eagerly waving and watching the riders come into town. The hospitality of everyone in Blythe is overwhelming. This is the first “Welcome Home” that the riders experience on Run for the Wall.
After visiting our friends in Blythe the riders mount up and head to Tonopah, Arizona for the afternoon fuel stop and hydration. After a brief stop, the riders were on their way to Phoenix, Arizona for dinner and the conclusion of Day 1.
As a note, the weather has been spectacular and the riders received a welcome break from the normal blistering heat of Southern California and Arizona.
FNG’s did a great job on their first day and they can look forward to 9 more days of smooth sailing as we head to Washington, D.C.
Editor’s Note: It is the intention of the Sit-Rep Coordinator to recognize all those that provided services and support to Run for the Wall and the list will be compiled and presented on the final Sit-Rep. We will however be selecting riders for interviews and their perspective on why they are doing Run for the Wall.
Respectfully submitted by
Steve “Hawgwash” Hill
MSgt. USMC (Ret.)
The following are from Raven and Sapper's photos on their Facebook page for Day One, May 19:
Above and below, the lunch at Blythe. Below, Floyd Marlowe, one of the primary organizers in Blythe, with Wally Morgan, WW II vet and former POW, and Mrs. Morgan.
Below, Ted "Oscar Bear" Wyatt's bike. Oscar Bear was the leader of the Advance Team for a couple of years and is now the Merchandise Director on the RFTW Board of Directors.
