Welcome to
Run For The Wall XXI
Southern Route - 2009
"Service Beyond Self"
Day Six - May 18
Monroe, LA to Meridian, MS
Exit # Distance Time ETA ETD
Monroe – Tallulah 171 51 miles 1:00 10:00 10:30
HELMET LAW REMAINS IN EFFECT TO DC
Tallulah – Jackson 90A 67 miles 1:10 11:40 4:00
Jackson – Meridian 154A 90 miles 1:30 5:30
Total Mileage 208 miles
The following photos were submitted by SR Photographer, Ed Kain:
Sam's Club in Monroe is an excellent staging place in the morning of Day 6. They even open the fueling station for the convenience of riders to fuel on their own. Above, left, is the Monroe Police escort. Above, right, is an example of the occasional needs which happen. Ed said that the appropriate caption for this photo was, "What's behind door #3?"
Below, left, Second Platoon's leaders, Holly "Shooter" Thomas (Assistant) and Jeff "Breese" Starks. Below, right, Seventh Platoon leaders, Joe "Chicken Joe" Conners and Frank "Wide Load" Hidlebaugh (Assistant).
Above, left, Preacher is addressing the huge numbers of FNGs who joined in Monroe. Above, right, "R.G.I.T"s are Road Guards In Training. Traditionally, these folks become Road Guards after five days of training, so Polly "Biker Girl" Berry was among those promoted by Pied Piper this morning. Polley is the first female Road Guard for the Southern Route. Below, left, Dwayne "Cajun" Guidry reminds all riders of hand signals used by RFTW. Below, right, Lynne Fouraker and "Lil' Bit" discuss the importance of the raffle donations for the schools.
Visiting the Veterans' Memorial in the City of Monroe to honor those Killed in Action (KIA) has become a tradition. Above, two of the four markers. Below, escort and riders incoming.
Above, right, local veterans join us during the ceremony. We appreciate having them with us!
Below, left, Gary Ross, Director of Public Relations for the City of Monroe; he borrowed a rider's pair of sun glasses to help him face the bright sunlight. Below, right, Mayor James Mayo.
Mayor Mayo looks great in his new cap! Right, Sgt. Matthew Spillers of the Army National Guard speaking on patriotism issues.
Above, left, the RFTW Honor Guard presenting the wreath. Above, left, just one of many overpasses where people were waving flags to greet us. There seem to be more of these greeters this year, and we appreciate each and every one of you. YOUR support makes a huge difference in the riders' morale! Thank you! Below, left, arriving in Tallulah for fuel. Right, the LA police helicopter escort.
The LA State motor patrols bikes escorted us from Tallulah. Ed reported an extensive "police presence" all day...from LA through MS! This is a wonderful help, very much appreciated, and it assures the safest possible passage. Thank you, truckers and citizens, for your patience with our travels...and for your support! Below, left and right, some of the police escorts. Ed said that there must have been a hundred bikes lined up to provide escort from Tallulah.
The next several photos are of our riders in the arriving in Jackson. Perhaps you have never seen a line of patriots like this...just awesome! AND they ride "for those who can't." That includes our United States military personnel serving all over the world.
Image riding a motorcycle all the way across the United States, day after day. You probably don't drop into bed until around 10. In the morning, you are rising around 5 or 5:30, hurrying to dress and pack your bike, then to the riders' meeting. Hopefully, you grab a bite to eat and some coffee on the way!
What a GREAT photo! Not only in this re-enactor dressed like an MP, he also has a restored bike!
Below, arrival at Harley-Davidson of Jackson. What a honor for our riders. We could never adequately express our appreciate to owner Earl Rottmann, the Trail of Honor re-enactors, or the VIPs and folks who make this happen annually.
The Trail of Honor re-enactors create a long line with others along the entrance road to the dealership. Bikes are re-fueled at the station next door, and then the show greeting the riders continues with jumps and landings by the Aarmy's Black Daggers. What beautiful sights (below, left)! The program is narrated from below.
The military helicopters also provide an exciting show...all prior to having the riders go inside for a great lunch and observation of ceremonial Navy "piping" VIPs aboard, including our SR Coordinator, Greg "Pied Piper" Smith. Lex, a military service dog who was wounded when his handler was lost, awarded a Purple Heart, and subsequently (after great effort) adopted by the handler's mother, was also piped aboard. We were thrilled to have Lex back with us for this second year! (See www.rftwsr-2008.us, Day Six for more details about Lex)
Below, the Tuskegee Airmen are represented by honored men who have returned to be with us annually. Below, left, is Colonel Leo Gray; below, right, is Colonel Alexander Jefferson.
Navajo Code Talkers from WWII have been with us for at least three years. Below, left, is Bill Toledo; below, right, is Samuel Tso. What a honor it is to have them here!
The number of Medal of Honor recipients present seems to grow each year when we are in Jackson. Above, left, Leonard Keller. Above, right, Col. Joe Jackson. Below, left, Maj. General James Livingston. Below, right, Ms. Ruby Lucas speaking...she later was gifted with an RFTW vest to show that she is always welcomed by RFTW at any event! Her husband, MOH recipient Jack Lucas, was a favorite in our hearts. The youngest recipient of a MOH in WWII, Jack passed away last June.
Above, a local school raised the money necessary to create a display case containing MOH recipient Jack Lucas's MOH and RFTW vest for permanent location at Harley-Davidson of Jackson. Jack's vest was on display at the state capitol for about two months, just outside of Lt. Governor Phil Bryant's office.
On the left is school teacher, Cheryl Shelton, who raised $800 for gas money for RFTW. She teaches sixth grade at Byram Middle School which was the subject of the Freedom Team Salute program (Freedom team salute goodie boxes).
Next to Ms. Shelton is Earl Rottmann, the owner of Harley-Davidson of Jackson. To the right is Ms. Ruby Lucas, Jack's widow.
Major General Hearon, Mississippi National Guard, registers for RFTW and receives an FNG button from Registrar Shirley "Top Sarge" Scott.
Below, the Trail of Honor has displays set up for each of America's military conflicts. The TOH is open to educate the public on Saturday and Sunday preceding RFTW's arrival, but it is a special treat to have them stay for our benefit. We appreciate ALL of these volunteers!
Below, Meridian, MS, provided a wonderful dinner at the Ag Pavilion in the evening. Below, right, we were greeted by Ken Storms, Chief Administrative Officer of Meridian, a Vietnam veteran who welcomed our riders.
Day Six Sit Reps
Day 6, Monday, May 18, 2009
Good morning RFTW Day 6. Riders are up early and assembling for our run into the Great State of Mississippi. After the morning meeting and briefing, it's a short run to downtown Monroe for ceremonies at their War Memorial. We were greeted by the Mayor, Honorable James E. Mayo and his staff. The Mayor read a proclamation stating that Monday, May 18, 2009 was Run for the Wall Day and declared all Run for the Wall Participants honorary citizens of the wonderful city of Monroe.
After spending some time talking with the Mayor, his staff, and various other local people it was off to our first fuel stop in Tallulah, LA. As is usual, there were dozens of motorcyclists eagerly waiting to register for the ride into Jackson, MS.
Louisiana and Mississippi State police then escorted the riders from Tallulah into Jackson. Over 100 police units (including a police helicopter) were involved in the escort. In addition, once we got near Mississippi, there was a Huey, a Cobra attack helicopter, a Black Hawk helicopter, a Chinook helicopter and an observation helicopter flying low above the riders as they converged on the Harley dealership. During the ride, these various helicopters would hover in open fields, sometimes as low as 5 feet above the grass to honor the Veterans riding by. Earl Rottmann never ceases to amaze us when it comes to the Run for the Wall event that he hosts at his dealership, Harley-Davidson of Jackson.
After a quick donated fuel stop right outside the Dealership and parking, the army parachute team, Black Daggers, made their entrance.
It's amazing how this large Harley dealership can clear out their showroom of motorcycles and replace them with row upon row of tables for the lunch stop and ceremonies and so many dignitaries. In attendance were the Honorable Phil Bryant; Lt Governor of Mississippi, Major General Bill Freeman, AG, Mississippi National Guard and his bride; three medal of honor recipients; Navajo Code Talkers; Pearl Harbor survivors; Tuskegee Airmen and ex-POW's from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Major General Livingston, USMC (ret) was the keynote speaker. During his speech he asked the riders to take a message to Washington, D.C. on his behalf. That message is "The American Veteran has not drunk from the Kool Aid". In addition, the General strongly encouraged us to demand a full accounting of our POW/MIA's. (Side note - Medal of Honor Recipient James Livingston and I served together in the Pentagon from 1987 - 1989)
Once our formal ceremonies were concluded, the riders were invited to participate in the 7th Annual Trail of Honor where they could wander around the grounds of the Harley Dealership and get an up close and personal education from reenactors, covering the French and Indian War, up and to including the War on Terrorism. (Side note #2 - I suppose I should be on my best behavior henceforth, since Holly "Shooter" Thomas got to fire an M60 Machine gun on full automatic. Her comment after firing her bursts was, "that didn't kick too much". From the M60 we wandered around trying to find a 50 Cal for her to shoot, to no avail...)
Once again many thanks to Earl Rottmann for his unending surprises that he gives Run for the Wall.
Four hours is just not enough time to take in everything at this spectacular stop at Run for the Wall. (Side note #3 - I arrived early at the Dealership and you will be proud to know that each morning when the dealership opens, Earl has a formal flag raising ceremony. As the Star Spangled Banner was played on the loudspeaker for everyone to hear, the Stars and Stripes and the POW/MIA flag are hoisted high above the Dealership. Thanks, Earl, for your true patriotism.)
The riders climbed aboard their bikes and trikes, and under continued law enforcement escort, to include our helicopters, began the short ride to Meridian, MS for the evening stop.
On most every overpass and along the sides of the highway as we approached Meridian, citizens were gathered waving flags and banners as the riders passed. Once arriving in Meridian, and reaching our exit, the street was lined on both sides with the local citizens waving flags, waving banners and waving in general as the riders proceeded to the Lauderdale County Agriculture Center where we had a fabulous Bar-B-Que dinner. Surprise packages were passed out to the riders which included snacks and toiletry items.
Going above and beyond the call of duty, the local citizens had brand new laundry bags that they distributed to the riders who wanted their laundry done. [The Meridian Southern Cruisers Riding Club Chapter 68 AND the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Club) were BOTH heavily involved with the serving of food and collecting/returning laundry at the Meridian stopover.] This has been a tradition of the wonderful people of Meridian of which many will spend the majority of the evening washing and folding clothes and then returning them to the riders in the morning prior to departure. During our six days on the road thus far, we have been blessed by countless citizens from the Great State of California through to the Great State of Mississippi. What will Day 7 have in store for us? Stay tuned for the evening news.
Respectfully submitted by
Steve "Hawgwash" Hill
MSgt. USMC (Ret.)
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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 Louisiana and Mississippi:
Sam's Club #8237
City of Monroe, Louisiana
RFTW Louisiana State Coordinator, Mike Cappel
The Honorable Phil Bryant, Lt. Governor
Earl Rottmann, owner of Harley-Davidson of Jackson
Fire & Ice, MC
Ken Storms, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Meridian
G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Foundation
RFTW Mississippi State Coordinator, Don "Papa Bear" Stringer
RFTW Mississippi State Assistant Coordinator, Tony "Rotten" Compton
The Meridian Southern Cruisers Riding Club Chapter 68 AND the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Club) were BOTH heavily involved with the serving of food and collecting/returning laundry at the Meridian stopover. We are SOOOO grateful to them all!
