Hello and greetings from the staff at FollowURtrends.
We are hoping you are having an enjoyable and memorable summer experience. We are also hoping it is involving and including both your immediate family and also your great and cherished friends.
Since 2018, I have been actively involved and engaged in a very unique and challenging undertaking. This event only occurs once a year. It is both a mental challenge and a physical challenge. It is called RUN FOR THE WALL.
I have been riding motorcycles for several years both with friends and other motorcycle organizations. Many times I take short trips only by myself. I personally find it very rewarding to be able to get our on the road and enjoy the local scenery.
I was first introduced to the existence of the mission of the Run For The Wall by asking a friend what the RFTW patch on his leather vest represented and what it actually represented. After his brief explanation, I readily developed a keen interest in finding our more about the overall mission and organization.
The mission statement for the Run For The Wall includes:
To promote healing among all veterans and their families and friends;
To call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War(POW) and those Missing In Action(MIA);
To honor the memory of those Killed In Action(KIA) from all wars; and
To support our military personnel all over the world.
Run For The Wall consists a a ten(10) day, 3000 mile motorcycle ride starting from Ontario, CA and ending at the Vietnam Veteran’s
Memorial in Washington, DC. There are three(3) separate routes of travel which a person can chose from. There is a Central route, a Midway route, and a Southern route. An additional route was added in 2022 honoring the service, sacrifice and contributions made by those military personnel in Operation Iraqi Freedom(OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom(OEF) in support of the Global War on Terror. This was designated as the Sandbox route. This consists of a three(3) day, 849 mile trip starting in Washington, DC and ending at the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois. The Sandbox route starts after the completion of the Run For The Wall.
The vision for the present Run For The Wall event mission was developed and originated by James “Gunny” Gregory, a retired United States Marine Corps Drill Instructor and Combat Veteran. In 1988, “Gunny” spearheaded a reconnaissance ride to develop a route for the now present RFTW. He rode his motorcycle eastbound to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall on a southern route and returned by way of a middle route. During this reconnaissance ride, an amazing experience happened. Strangers and volunteers started calling in and donating their time, energy, food, and gas for these routes. Several veterans groups, churches, and Motorcycle Rights organizations were to backbone of Run For The Wall.
In May of 1989, the first official Run For The Wall ride began in San Diego, CA with about 115 motorcycles. In Las Vegas, NV, most of the bikes turned back, but 15 bikes continued the trip and went all the way to Washington, DC. On Friday, May 26, 15 bikes accomplished its first mission. On the following day, a wreath was laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
This year, 2024, commemorates the thirty-fourth(XXXIV) running for Run For The Wall. The Run For The Wall organization is comprised of over one hundred(100) experienced volunteers such as Road Guards, Fuelers, Stagers, Ambassadors, Chaplains, Leadership Support, Hydration, Chase Vehicles, and Platoon Leadership. The goal of the Leadership Team is to provide a well planned and safe journey across America to complete the Mission.
This type of travel across our historic Country involves various visits to Patriotic Communities, Veteran Homes, Veterans Hospitals,
Monuments, Memorials, and Local Schools.
Since 2018, I have chosen to ride on the Southern Route each year. This gives me the opportunity to bond with many military veterans whom I have had the pleasure to ride with. I been able to share my stories, my experiences and also my emotions with many, many of my friends. I have found that after each ride every year, I am able to discard some of the emotional baggage that I have been carrying around for years. It is definitely both a mental challenge and a physical challenge for each individual participating in this worth-while event.
The motto of Run For The Wall is……..We Ride for Those Who Can’t.
The main theme for those on the Southern Route this year was…
…..say their names
…..tell their stories
…..NEVER FORGET!!