Welcome to
Run For The Wall XXI
Southern Route - 2009
"Service Beyond Self"
Day Five - May 17
Weatherford, TX to Monroe, LA
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). To see individual platoon photos, view the separate page for early in the morning of Day Five.
The following photographs were submitted by SR Route Photographer, Ed Kain:
Above, Lil' Bit on the motorcycle she is now riding with the Advance Team. The signs were hung at the motel in Weatherford.
Below, Richard "Preacher" Moore and the Chaplain Team offered a non-denominational Sunday morning worship service.
Above, Frank Perry, RFTW-SR Coordinator for 2007 has been side-lined by a bad back after six years of RFTW participation, but he and Ms. Anne (also your webmistress) came to Weatherford to say hello and help the Bill and Betty Powell and Roger and Jeanne Sheridan display the banners/signs for our riders. (See their photos of many riders on the separate page for early on Day Five.) Below, Greg "Pied Piper" Smith at the riders' meeting.
The Duncanville Road greeters, above, have been the largest crowd on an overpass for our entire route for many years. We are so glad that we didn't have to detour away from passing under their supportive efforts! Above, right, the Brookshire's parking lot in Terrell was full this year! It seems like the whole town turns out of this Sunday morning to greet us and offer water and snacks...we appreciate you, Terrell!
Right, what an impressive photo of the Missing Man formation out in front of the Lead Element! Below, left, a photo from the back of the pack...really a magnificent view! Below, right, supporters on the side of the road...you all are terrific to come out and support our RFTW mission!
Below, the East Texas Patriot Guard came out in force to greet RFTW as we rode into the VFW in Longview for lunch. For the staging area in Longview, there were handmade staging signs provided by our hosts.
Below, inside the VFW where the riders ate. Below, right, one of our most faithful supporters through the years who always tells great stories. Helen Smith has worked diligently for the POWs who returned from Vietnam through the years (more information in the Sit Reps below).
Below, more loyal supporters on the side of the road as we left the VFW post in Longview. Thanks so much!!!
One of our chaplains read about the meaning of the POW/MIA table.
Welcome to Louisiana! This banner has been displayed on the first overpass in LA for the past several years. Thanks for your efforts!!!
Above, another overpass in LA just a few miles down the road...what a welcome!!
Registration continues and swells in Monroe, Louisiana. Many riders come there from Mississippi to register and ride with RFTW into Jackson.
The Barak Shriners' Hall has provided our dinner (catfish and gumbo) for at least three years. The Sons of the Confederate Veterans (local commander below) offer a program which explains southern flag heritage. Right is LA State Coordinator, Mike Cappel.
Sit Reps for Day 5
Day 5, Sunday, May 17, 2009
Good morning RFTW participants, it is now Day 5. Run for the Wall started off with a morning Church service held by Preacher. We then had the riders meeting prior to our departure for our first fuel stop in Terrell, TX where we registered dozens of riders. Our fuel stop at Brookshires's Chevron was donated by many organizations of the local community. Thank you Terrell, we love your enthusiasm and patriotism.
After fuel and some munchies (Yeah for the peanut butter & jelly sandwiches...the best), we departed for lunch in Longview, TX. At the VFW Post 4002 Chanel 7 News (KLTV) was there to film our arrival and Bob Hallmark, the field reporter, interviewed "Pied Piper" for a segment on the TV news. We had a fabulous lunch at the VFW, met some old friends and many new ones and loaded up for our afternoon leg. We were very happy to be treated to another humorous and poignant speech by Helen Smith. She is the widow of Allen Gordon Smith, a survivor of the Bataan Death March. Helen is the National Historian of American Ex-POW's, a volunteer at the VA Clinic and lobbies for the Military Officers Association in Washington, D.C. Did I mention that this very active woman is 82?
We received a copy of a poem written by Claudie Cline Thompson in memory of her cousin Mark Cline who was KIA in Vietnam. This poem will be delivered to the Wall upon arrival in D.C. There was a "scuffle" (not really, but it was funny...and I hate to admit it, but I was one of the scufflee's) between two RFTW participants as to who would have the honor of carrying this poem to the Wall. As usual, the plucky Helen Smith came to the rescue, reprimanding us two "boys" and telling us to share the task of carrying of the poem to the Wall. It was agreed that one would carry the poem for two days, the other would carry the poem for two days, and then we would both present it at the Wall. Leave it to Helen to straighten things out.
After a gas and go in Minden, LA we headed east to Monroe, LA for some of the best Louisiana home cooking ever, to include fried catfish, gumbo, hush puppies, fries and an endless desert bar. Back by popular demand the riders were educated again on the flag history of the Great State of Louisiana. The presentation was conducted by Commander Todd Owens, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Each of the riders received a great history lesson about the heritage of the South. Mike Cappel gave us a unique perspective on the Veterans of Louisiana who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and how brother fought against brother, and regardless of which side they fought on, they deserve equal treatment among all veterans of all wars. From our dinner stop we waddled off to our hotels for a much needed rest and preparation for Day 6 where Run for the Wall Southern Route will cross the Great Mississippi River.
Jim "Stoney" Stone shared a story with me about a flight he took from London to Dallas/Ft. Worth. Stoney was wearing his POW/MIA bracelet and the flight attendant happened to notice it. They struck up a conversation where she told the story of her brother CW2 Martin VanDeneykel who lost his life in Vietnam. His name is on Panel 15W Line 21 of the Wall. Two participants on RFTW went to flight school with Martin and one of them flew with him in Vietnam. Martin was lost on December 2, 1969. His body was recovered in February 1990 and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. What makes the story more unique is Martin's name appears on the saddlebag mural of "Baron's" motorcycle. It's amazing how these stories come about as more and more people join Run for the Wall.
The Louis Update (one of our FNG's) - I want to apologize to Louis, I had been misspelling his name (Lewis) and apologize for the error. The other day Louis had a disagreement between himself and the pavement where he sustained a broken rib and a little road rash. I caught up with him and he is bound and determined to not let this incident interfere with him going all the way to Washington, D.C.. Hang in there Louis, now that you have the disagreement out of the way, we hope that you have smooth sailing on into D.C.
Respectfully submitted by
Steve "Hawgwash" Hill
MSgt. USMC (Ret.)
- - - - - - - - - -
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 through Central Texas, East Texas, and Louisiana:
Longview Police Department
Gregg County Sheriff Department
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4002
American Legion Post 267, Marshall, Texas
RFTW East Texas State Coordinators, Ben and Cynthia Gurganus
Louisiana Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Barak Shriners #185
City of Monroe, Louisiana
RFTW Louisiana State Coordinator, Mike Cappel
