Wednesday, May 14th
Run For The Wall 2003.
The ride from California will be coming in at about 2:30 PM at the Texaco Gas Station located at exit 94 and Interstate 10 in Tonapah. South West side of the road we will arrive in parade formation and stop to refuel our bikes. We then pull out about 3:20 or so for an escorted ride to Wesely Bolin Memorial Plaza by the Capital to pay our respects to the fallen commarades at the Viet Nam War Memorial. We will have a short Wreath laying Ceremony and then time to visit all the other memorials on the grounds. Then we are off to our final destination for the day at the Carl Hayden Veterans Memorial Hospital to visit the veterans. If you would like to ride with the group into Phoenix meet there at around 3:00 for the ride. The route will come East on I-10 to 7th Ave. then turn South to Washington St., turn West to Wesley Bolin Plaza.

About Run For The Wall

Run For The Wall (RFTW) was started in 1989 as an effort by a couple of Vietnam Veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles, talking to local Radio, TV, and Newspapers about the fact that we have thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from all of our wars.  We continue this tradition every May.

We don't give political speeches or  stage demonstrations.  Run For The Wall gets its message across by traveling through the United States in a safe and orderly manner. We obey traffic laws and treat the citizens with respect. But the issues of public awareness are only part of the benefit of Run For The Wall.  We also give Vietnam Veterans the opportunity to get the welcome home they never got twenty years ago, and start their healing process.

Everyone who has fought, or has friends or loved ones who have fought in a war has their own issues from their experience. Everyone has something, be it the welcome home, the good-bye to buddies lost, the ability to finally help the young boys we watched every night on TV, or just trying to make up for coming home alive.  Once you have participated in Run For The Wall you find that whatever you've been missing, can be found in the Run For The Wall family.  You can finally start settling issues that have been put away for over twenty years.

There is no charge for participating in Run For The Wall, although you have to pay your own expenses.  We have been very fortunate in the past in that we generally get a great deal of support from organizations and people along the way.  Most nights dinners are provided free or for a small donation by concerned citizens, as well as some breakfasts and lunches.  We have generous groups who have paid for gas and lodging as well. The trip takes ten days to reach the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where our Run officially ends on the Friday evening before Memorial Day. Additionally, we have things scheduled for the weekend, ending with participation in the Rolling Thunder Parade in Washington DC, on Sunday.  It is quite a sight to behold ,  200,000 motorcycles all starting at once and parading through downtown Washington, ending at the Wall.

Along the way across the U.S. we make stops at Memorials, Veteran's Hospitals, and we enjoy parades, escorts, and welcome home receptions from many of the patriotic towns. The ages of the participants range from eight to eighty, there are mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers (who ride their own bikes!), veterans from World War II, Korea,Vietnam, Desert Storm, active military, supporters, and family.  Everyone is welcome.  The only rule is NO ATTITUDES.

Some people join Run For The Wall and think of it as just another vacation or motorcycle event.  But after one or two days you realize this is something very special.  It is unlike anything else you have experienced, and it becomes a mission!  You become part of the Run For The Wall family, Whose members come from all over the United States, Canada, and Australia.  What could be more perfect than having fun, making new friends, and helping a very good cause, POW/MIA.

You don't have to ride a motorcycle to participate, we have some members who drive chase trucks, some bring motor homes, or cars, one year there was even an 18 wheeler who joined us.  The important thing is to join the cause!

 

RFTW Mission Statement

 

The Southern Route of the Run For The Wall will be visiting VFW Post, Memorials, VA Medical Centers and Homeless Shelters as they travel across the United States to increase awareness of Prisoners Of Way (POW), Missing In Action (MIA) and Accountability of all. The following locations have special programs scheduled.

 

Phoenix, AZ:     VA Medical Center and Soldiers Home.

                        Wreath Laying Ceremony at Wesely Bolin Plaza Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

                        Self-Guided Tour of Wesely Bolin Plaza Memorials.

 

Odessa, TX:      Flag Raising and Wreath Laying Ceremony at Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

 

Tuscaloosa AL:  VA Medical Center.

 

Wytheville VA:   School Awareness Program.

 

Bedford, VA:      D Day Memorial.

 

Roanoke, VA:    Virginia Veteran Care Center.

                        Veteran  Homeless Shelter.

                        VA Medical Center

 

Washington DC:            Iwo Jima Memorial, Vietnam Memorial Wall,

Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

(Special Permission is given to take our parade of Motorcycles into Arlington Cemetery for this event)

Partake in the Annual Rolling Thunder Parade

 

NOTE: Stops may be added or subtracted from the RUN itinerary due to various factors. There are so many towns and groups who wish to honor, recognize and remember our veterans that it is impossible to make as many stops as we would like. We know they join us in our mission to remember those men and women who haven’t come home.

 

For Information on Participating in RUN FOR THE WALL

CONTACT: ARIZONA Southern Route State Coordinator

“Cookie” Aka: Randal Schadowsky

480-474-8404  rschad1@qwest.net

OR

Log on to: www.rftw.org and select Southern Route.