Welcome to
Run For The Wall XXI
Southern Route - 2009
"Service Beyond Self"
Day Five - May 17 - early
Weatherford, TX, and just east
Exit # Distance Time ETA ETD
Weatherford – Terrell 498 90 miles 1:45 9:45 10:45
Terrell – Longview 589 B 97 miles 1:45 12:30 2:30
HELMET LAW REMAINS IN EFFECT TO DC
Longview – Minden 49 92 miles 1:30 4:00 4:40
Minden – Monroe 120 71 miles 1:20 6:00
Total Mileage 350 miles
The video of the pack this morning, linked below, is >3 min.; we missed the Advance Team and initial set of Road Guards, but the rest of the video is unedited; the pack flowed beautifully together. Very impressive! Click to watch a MP4 video or a Windows Media video. Link to this video on YouTube (posted 5/23/09). For individual platoon photos, click here.
The photos below were taken by Frank and Anne Perry in Weatherford, TX. I've included them here to give more riders a chance to see themselves:
Above, the Road Guards meeting. Above, left, Financial Officer Gayle McCook and her brother. Above, right, Registration Assistant, Val McClymonds. Below, left, Jessica King, a Marine AND excellent merchandise truck driver! Below, right, James "Stoney" Stone became a Road Guard this year.
Richard "Preacher" Moore and four other chaplains conducted Sunday morning non-denominational services. Three are Gary "Shepherd" Burd, Bo "Bo" Pearson, and John "Ox" Rascomsom; I'm sorry I don't know the fourth chaplain. Below, Road Guards meeting on the left and Platoon Leaders meeting on the right.
Unless you're a veteran who was never welcomed home, you cannot know the significance of Top Sarge's welcome home hug. She has been the "rock" of Southern Route welcomes for years, and has the continuing appreciation of many, many riders welcomed by her.
Marty collected some $s from Frank. Above, right, Shirley "Top Sarge" Scott and Val McClymonds do a super job with registration and creating many "rider extras" to give out. Shirley has always created and collected raffle items. Val, for the last three years, has sewn hundreds of "cool neck ties" to distribute to the riders in California. RFTW is blessed to have these ladies! Carol Olmstead, Merchandise Coordinator, is another person who has managed the collection and restocking of water for the Hydration Team, along with various other gifts for the riders.
Below, left, is Mrs. Gary Burd, one of our Chaplains, with Jackie "Wonder" Frady from Hico. Jackie is only 16, joining as an FNG today, and riding a Suzuki Blvd. Her father, Ed Frady, is riding with her. (More aboout Jackie in the Day 8 SitReps)
The following photos were taken east of Weatherford of the Southern Route at the same time the video was taken. They are sequential, from the Missing Man formation in the Lead Element through to the end (sorry; we missed the Advance Team and the first group of Road Guards).
