Sitreps from the Runs for the Wall 1997

SITREP: Kingman 5/15/97

Dinner and Breakfast were provided by the Arizona State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America.

Across the desert en route, the ambient temperatures reached 110 degrees.  

Lunch in Needles at 106 degrees.  

Numbers are 76 strong and growing.

Camped at Kingman KOA next to Timothy McVeigh's former trailer park.

Stay tuned for more details....

SITREP: Gallup 5/16/97

Much better weather.  Climbed to 7000 ft. at Ash Fork AZ

Lunch in Flagstaff , sponsored by American Legion of Flagstaff and ABATE.

Received key to city from Mayor Barvasi.

Spending night in Gallop, NM

Dinner and gas provided by Gallop chamber of commerce.  Dinner was excellent southwest fare.

Dinner speaker was Robert Miller, survivor of  the Bataan Death March.

Camping and Breakfast provided free by Gallop KOA. 

Local radio station, KOLT 107.5 FM, Flagstaff broadcast live from rear seat of Deekin's bike en route.

Tomorrow: Cimarron and Angel Fire

Talk to you then....

SITREP: Cimarron 5/17/97

Weather was driving rain today and colder than it had been on previous trips.  We were at Angel Fire this afternoon  and paid our respects to our fallen brothers there.  We met Dr. Karl Westphall, the creator of Angel Fire, and he wishes all of you the best and hopes to see us as a goal again next year.  

We left Gallup, New Mexico in sunshine with a police escort and a parade through town. We were then treated to an escort through Albuquerque by 23 motor officers from the Albuquerque police department, who blocked not only Interstate 40, but Interstate 25 for us also. We also picked up a police escort in Santa Fe, New Mexico to ease our travels through there. We culminated our interaction with law enforcement with an escort through Taos and Espanola, New Mexico and had dinner at the Kit Carson Inn

Our excitement today was provided by Som'r on not one, but two occasions, but both she and the bike are okay.

And finally, a note for Lori in the land of sand: Terry's bike broke down and we all were very concerned because you weren't here to fix it.  But here's up and around with no problem at all.

More tomorrow night.

SITREP: Limon 5/17/97

Run For The Wall began the day today in Cimarron, New Mexico. We were treated to breakfast by the Cimarron Chamber of Commerce, who provided us with fresh fruit, toasted cinnamon buns, fresh coffee, and orange juice.

We enjoyed a wonderful ride out US 64 toward Interstate 25, a two lane highway, watching as the sun came up over the mountains. Once we got on Interstate 25, we proceeded to Wilsonburg, where we has a fast gas stop and then proceeded to Pueblo, Colorado, and the Pinon Truck Stop.

At the Pinon truck stop, we were met by representatives of Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell. We were met by local representatives of the Assemblyman's office. We had a lunchtime address by Peter C. Lemon, the author of Beyond the Medal: A Journey from Their Hearts to Yours, a book about Medal of Honor recipients. Our lunch was provided by the Sinclair Oil Company, as was our gasoline. Sinclair filled all of our tanks and all of our chase vehicles free of charge. Mr. Joe Lozano coordinated that stop and did an excellent job. We were escorted out of the Pinon Truck Stop to the Pueblo County border by the Pueblo County Sheriff's Police who blocked off I-25 in it's entirety and gave us a rolling escort all the way to the border.

We proceeded into Colorado Springs, which, as everyone knows, has historically been a difficult ride because of the traffic conditions. However, this year Joe Lozano did an incredible job of posting members of the local HOG chapter and the local ABATE on each and every corner of Colorado Springs, directing us through. We were also escorted through Colorado Springs by members of the Blue Knights motorcycle club which greatly eased our travels. The run out of Colorado Springs was once again a beautiful two lane road.

Upon arriving in Limon, Deekin felt it necessary to take folks on a tour of downtown prior to arriving at the campground. Some folks believe that it was simply because he missed a highway turnoff and felt it necessary to perform a u-turn, but other folks really believed that it was intentional and that the tour was beneficial to all of those that were present. We were provided with camping and dinner by Brothers of Vietnam. Dinner was wonderful, barbecued chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and roast beef. The best part of dinner, of course, was the incredible variety of desserts.

We rode individually from the dinner, which was held in Hugo, Colorado back to Limon. And as anyone who has been on this run before knows, the ride back to Limon from Hugo is usually a spirited occasion. Upon arriving in Limon, we attended a healing ceremony conducted by a Medicine Man from the Lakota Sioux tribe. The Medicine Man was brought from the Rosebud reservation by Ron Valandra, who had ridden with us on several Runs before and who is a tribe councilman.

The ceremony was moving, inspirational, and beneficial to all who attended. It commenced as the moon came out. It proceeded as the moon rose high in the sky, with the Medicine Man going around the circle and treating each individual that was present with a Wiping of the Tears Ceremony. We'll be spending the night here in Limon, and are en route to Salina, Kansas tomorrow.

All for now...

SITREP: Salina 5/18/97

Currently in Salina, Kansas, experiencing high winds, high rain, and expecting large hail. The day began today in Limon with approximately 90 riders. We had breakfast proved for us by Brothers Vietnam at the JC Deli. Brothers Vietnam also donated $375 to the Run for chase truck expenses. We went down the road to Burlington, Colorado in high winds but a clear and dry road.

We had lunch in Oakley, gas again in Hayes, and then it was into Salina. In Salina we were met by the Salina POW/MIA Association and brought to the Salina Veterans Memorial and conducted a reflagging ceremony at that time. From there we went to Thomas Park in Salina, where camping was provided to us by Salina POW/MIA Association as well as a barbecue and live music reception. We were presented with a wreath to bring to the Wall in Washington, as well as three Teddy Bears to bring to the Wall and place there on behalf of the Salina association.

The Run is going well, there seem to be no problems of any import. Phil and Linda Wright are back with us after missing a day because of a faulty fuel injection system. Jim David and his sidecar are back after getting repairs on a frozen exhaust valve.

Don't forget you can send voice mail to us if you need to reach someone on the Run at (847) 328-9903.

We're sorry that this report is so short, but, as you know, there's not a lot in Kansas to talk about.

SITREP: Wentzeville 5/19/97

We left Salina this morning in cold, heavy winds following storms which had approximately 4 1/2 inch hail.  Thankfully the storms past north of us by about fifty miles and we suffered no hail damage.  However everyone was very wet and very cold. Rainsuits were the order of the day on the way to our first stop.  

ABATE District 1 provided us with gasoline this morning .  They also provided us with free toll on the Kansas Turnpike and they provided us with lunch just before we entered Missouri.  

Unfortunately today, Rev Cooper had an incident as a result of the high winds. He is injured and is in the Intensive Care Unit at Fort Riley. Cards should be directed to him at the Fort Riley Medical Center. The last report was three broken ribs, a broken shoulder, and unspecified other injuries.

We had lunch courtesy of  District 1 ABATE and proceeded into Wentzeville and received the traditionally warm welcome that we have gotten used to over the years. The Wentzeville VFW, the Freedom of the Road Riders, and other local organizations all joined together to provide a spaghetti dinner and the fellowship we've come to expect over the years.

We will be leaving tomorrow morning and heading for Corydon, Indiana, with a stop at the Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center.

SITREP:Corydon 5/20/97

We left Wentzeville early this morning followed by a breakfast provided for us by the Wentzeville VFW Post. They showed us what biscuits and gravy are REALLY like. Sorry, New Mexico. We got on the road with no incident. The sun was shining, it was a bit cool, but other than that it was a beautiful day out. Our first stop was the Wentzeville Veteran's Memorial. This a memorial dating from 1967 before the Tet offensive. We had a visit there, and a photo opportunity. It's the oldest Vietnam Veterans memorial in the country.

We then went to Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center at Jefferson Barracks. We visited with patients who were there for long term rehabilitative therapy. We were provided with snacks and carry-along food.

We left Jefferson Barracks en route to Huck's Truck Stop in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Huck's has sponsored us every year since the Run began. This year we had lunch at Huck's, and we were treated to speeches and a discussion by former POW Bill Hill.

Following Huck's we were en route to Corydon. We arrived in Corydon and had our annual fish fry sponsored by the American Legion Post. And we are camping in the Harrison County Fairgrounds, courtesy of the county. We had no excitement today as far as biking acrobatics and we are very happy to report that. We did have two breakdowns: R.C. Bousha broke a belt on his Tourglide and Puck blew a headgasket on his Electraglide. Both of these problems were fixed very expeditiously by Dale's Harley Davidson in Mount Vernon, who offer good service, low prices, and good fellowship.

We will be leaving Corydon tomorrow morning en route to the Louisville VA Medical Center, and Huntington West Virginia. More information to follow.

SITREP: Huntington 5/21/97

We started out from Corydon, Indiana this morning. We spent the night at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, courtesy of the Harrison County Board of Commissioners. The weather today was beautiful although cold. Very sunny, very nice.

We left Corydon and proceeded to the Louisville Veterans Administration Medical Center to visit with the patients. We were met by the Louisville Police Department as well as the Veterans Administration Police Department as we crossed the river into Kentucky and escorted to the VA Medical Center. There we were greeted by the staff and several patients as we rolled onto the grounds with 117 motorcycles and 14 support vehicles, carrying a total of 137 participants. We were taken care of by seven VIP ambassadors who took the participants to the floors to visit the patients.

Many friendships and long-lasting relationships were forged, and even a few reunions took place. Upon leaving the Center, we proceeded to the Frankfurt, Kentucky Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. We were met on the highway by the Frankfurt Police, and escorted all the way into the Memorial were we spent approximately one hour. As we left the Memorial, we headed to Huntington, West Virginia, to be greeted by Benjy Steel and members of the Huntington Policeman Motor Unit. They brought us to the Uptowner Inn, a hotel formerly known as the University Inn, where we had stayed on a regular basis, and treated us to a barbecue, refreshments, and live music.

No accidents or maintenance programs today.

Tommorow we will be leaving Huntington, followed by a parade in our honor, and proceeding to Rainelle, West Virginia.

Stay Tuned.

P.S. Yesterday we forgot to mention that the Head Nut on Skipper's Springer fell off, and Skipper ended up on the trailer for the afternoon.

More tomorrow...

SITREP: Rainelle 5/22/97

We left Huntington, West Virginia, to sunny weather, but very cold.  We were joined there last night by the Canadian Run, the Texas Run, and the Alabama Run.  We were escorted out of town by the Huntington Police, following breakfast at the University Inn.  On the way out of town, Pupp had a breakdown again.  This time it was a set of fouled plugs which put him off the road. Yesterday it was a blown head gasket.  However, he joined us at Gawley Bridge later in the day and is now with us again.

We headed into Rainelle after a bone-chilling ride and stopped at the bridge for our traditional "Family Portrait", which was taken from the fire escape of the Glennfarris Inn.  This year's photo opportunity was enhanced by the appearance of some very startled guests in the windows of the Inn, who weren't quite sure what the several hundred individuals were doing crammed into the parking lot all looking up at their window, when in reality we were all looking at the fire escape next to their window.

From the photo op we rode into Rainelle -- twenty-seven miles of twisted roads and and serious drop-away turns that we traversed with coal trucks and lumber haulers.  We got into Rainelle with no incident, however once we were in Rainelle, "Preacher" Dave Borsky slipped a bit on a railroad track and sprained an ankle, but he is up and running and with us for the rest of the ride.

When we arrived in Rainelle, we paraded through the town and into the school football field.  The kids were out, with sirens blowing.  The group from Kentucky joined in and the ceremonies began at two o'clock.  Run For The Wall was presented with a clock in the shape of West Virginia, and a flag that had flown over the schoolhouse to bring to the wall and to leave for the fallen brothers.   Run For The Wall  presented to Mayor John Hill, School Principal Monica Patterson, Chief of Police John Isaacs with Certificates of Appreciation for everything they've done.  Certificates were also presented to the Moose Lodge and the Rainelle School.  

The Moose lunch fed us this evening and will feed us breakfast tomorrow morning.  Dave Rexrode, everyone's favorite cobbler and leatherworker, who lives in Rainelle, was also presented with a Certificates of Appreciation for keeping his shop open late at night and so on---

Prior to the Run leaving this year, the Rainelle School conducted an essay contest where the students were to write an essay about what Run For The Wall meant to them.  Twelve winners were presented with Run For The Wall t-shirts today, and the two top contestants received Canadian flags from the Canadian Vietnam Veteran's Association. Run For The Wall also presented to Rainelle School an American POW flag to be flown from the school's flagpole.

Greasy represented the Kentucky to The Wall contingent and presented Mayor John Hill with a plaque.  Deekin immediately measured the plaque to be sure that next year Run For The Wall presents the Mayor with not only a Certificate of Appreciation, but a plaque in a size in excess of the Kentucky group.  

With regard to Reverend Cooper:  Reverend Cooper came out of Intensive Care and has been transferred to the Kentucky University Medical Center in Kansas, and  his condition has been upgraded to stable.  For anyone wanting to call him, the number is (800) 332-4199, room 5109.

In closing, at the school today we were read a poem that we would like to share with you:

SITREP tomorrow from Washington, D.C.

SITREP: Washington D.C. 5/23-24/97

The Run departed Rainelle, West Virginia on Friday morning user beautiful sunny skies.  However, the temperatures were somewhat frigid.  The campers awoke to a hard, frost on their windshields, and the tents were coated with a layer of ice.  The overnight temperatures had dropped to 28 degrees, an all-time low for Rainelle.  The bikes, although cold, all started.  The brisk, chilly ride through the mountains to the Interstate served wake everyone up and to keep them alert during the sudden drop-off curves and descent out of Rainelle.

Since the pack was riding so well together and things were so organized, the pack was kept together instead of being split.  We all made it to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C.  After having the "family portrait" taken at the Iwo Jima, we had a few moments of quiet reflection and  the Run left for the Wall, escorted by the Motors of the United States Park Police.  Following that brisk ride to the Wall, the paricipants all visited and paid their respects for a time.

That evening, dinner was sponsored by the Run at the Balck-Eyed Pea.  Dnner consisted of as choice of chicken-fried steak, blackened catfish, or grilled chicken breast.  At the conclusion of dinner, Deekin presented Certificates to Pupp, Mountain Man, Som'r, and Skipper for their assistance on the Run this year.  Skipper presented  Deekin a plaque to go next to the West Virginia clock that he received from the school principal in Rainelle.  Everyone then headed back to the hotel. Most people turned in early that evening.

Saturday morning, dawn was bright and clear.  We had a 10:00 a.m. departure from T.T. Reynolds Tavern to the Arlington Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown.  Our ceremony was scheduled at 11:45 and we had one presenter for each of the last four major conflicts.  "Smoke" Murphy represented World War II, Gunny represented the Korean Conflict and World War II, Mountain Man represented Vietnam, and Pupp represented Desert Storm.

For some reason, all those who participated found today's ceremony unusually moving.  Perhaps because the construction of the Tomb has been finished. We were able to gaze at the Capitol over the wreath that was displayed during the twelve o'clock noon changing of the guard.  The wreath this year consisted of white and red carnations on a green floral background and measured approximately three and a half feet across, with a beautifully inscribed ribbon which read "Run For The Wall".  Upon departure from Arlington Nation Cemetary, the Run passed by Smoke's brother, Joe Murphy's grave.  Joe was shot down over Vietnam very early in the war.

We then proceeded to a Fort Washington Harley Davidson dealer who sponsored a pig roast for all of the members of the Run, as well as any other motorcyclists within the six county area.  Fort Washington was, as usual, overrun with motorcycles, foreign and domestic, and Strangelove found it neccessary to purchase yet another new tire for his motorcycle.  It seems that he thinks that it is important to purchase a new tire at every dealership East  of the Mississippi River.

The D.C. Ramblers hosted a dinner for us late this afternoon, consisting of fried chicken, home made barbecue, and wonderfully seasoned spaghetti.  We then proceeded back to out hotel to partake in a home-cooked dinner, prepared for us by Tom and Christina Margetich.  

The Night Patrol is preparing to leave for the traditional nighttime visit to the Wall, and tomorrow we'll bring in Rolling Thunder.

SITREP: Washington D.C. 5/25/97

The Night Patrol, R.C. Bousha, Preacher John, Rock Walker, Jimmy Jones, Smoke Murphy, Deekin, and others returned to the hotel early this morning after completing another annual mission to the Wall. The Night Patrol also placed several items at the Wall that have been given to the Run: A number of Teddy Bears, from the Salina, Kansas POW/MIA Association (each of which  was adorned with a Run For The Wall FNG Button), a POW flag from the Wentzeville VFW Post, an American Flag in a display case from the schoolkids in Rainelle, a copy of "Fishman's" "Warriors" poem, and a wreath from the people of the city of Flagstaff. Also placed were several dozen personal items that have been entrusted to the run for placement.

Last night we sent Pupp to the ER since he had an apparent loss of appetite.  We were all concerned about this loss of appetite, and anybody who knows Pupp would be equally concerned.  He returned several hours later with a diagnoses of strep throat and and ear infection, and a pocket full of penicillin tabs. Another  item of interest that took place yesterday include Mountain Man being baptized in the swimming pool at the Comfort Inn by R.C. Bousha who was assisted by Phil and Linda Wright.

Dawn broke early this morning, chilly and damp.  At six a.m., a breakfast of bisquits and gravy, ham on the bone, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and sausage and peppers was provided for us by T.T. Reynolds.  We left en route to the Pentagon parking lot at 7 o'clock under escort from the Fairfax County Police and the Fairfax City Police.  We arrived at the north Petagon Parking lot without incident or detour and began the long wait to pull out.  During the wait we visited with old friends such as Bill Gunzleman. the photographer who prepared the photograph of the bike at the Wall , as well as Krazy Ric White, the photographer who prepares our annual collage.  At noon, the tens of thousands of bikes fired up.  A gentle rain began to fall from the overcast sky, reminding the crowd of the tears shed for fallen brothers.

The Rolling Thunder Run passed through the Capitol's streets, which were lined with spectators.  Official estimates placed the attendance and 235 thousand bikes and an equal number of spectators.  The Run terminated at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall with a time for quiet relection and comraderie.  

This is the last SITREP of this mission.  Run For The Wall Reports that the area of operations is secure and the personell involved are all scheduled to depart at zero dark thirty.  

An after action report will follow as soon as practical.

Thank you all for your continued support.

That is all.