Greetings all. I hope this message finds you well and the nation’s continued heat wave is not keeping you from enjoying some riding time!
It is hard to believe we are already into August. I don’t know about you, but it seems like 2024 as a whole is flying by. Planning for Midway continues to progress well. The State Coordinators are diligently working on the travel and stops through their respective states ensuring we have yet another outstanding and safe year! Java Joe Booktaub, Midway’s Platoon Coordinator, has finalized our 2025 Platoon Leaders and continues to work through assigning Assistant Platoon Leaders and Tailgunners. Ed “Wind Dog” Brundage has been communicating with the State Coordinators on our various stops as well as with Gina “Le’Spice” Cutrer on the Staging. Jerry “Corp” Wilkins continues working with the hotels and camping sites across the country. Leo Rachmel is starting the preliminary review of updates for the route. Zoe “Hugz” Martino is working with various people and organizations that are connected to the MIA and Gold Star community so that we can include as many of those families as possible during our stops from California to DC. As you can see a lot goes on behind the scenes to make the Run a success. This could not be done without a solid all volunteer cadre that Midway is very fortunate to have! Speaking of all volunteers…no route can complete the mission without volunteers at every level. If you think this is something you are interested in doing, please visit RFTW’s website – https://rftw.us/volunteer-sign-up/ The link will take you to the Volunteer page where you can find an overview of some of the positions and their respective prerequisites. At the bottom of the page is the application where you can submit your information for consideration. If you have any questions about a certain position feel free to reach out to me or Mike “Heavy” King.
If you have not yet seen the most recent message from Run for the Wall President John “Turkey” Staub you can find it on the website at https://rftw.us/presidents-message-august-1-2024/ . John covers a lot of good and new information so please go check it out! One that I would like to quickly highlight is AARs. As you will see from John’s post, every AAR is received and read by all the Board members as well as the respective Route Coordinator and Assistant Route Coordinator. Please keep them coming. Your input helps us ensure we continue to make sure what is working does not slip while we focus on ways to improve areas where we fall short.
You will also see mention of radio comms in John’s newsletter as well as a recent post provided by Central Route Coordinator Kirk “Pretty Boy” Olson. In late July the Board of Directors as well as RC and ARC’s met for our annual face-to-face meeting. One of the key topics was communications. As many of you know, Central Route ran a pilot test during the 2024 Run using GMRS radios vs CB’s. The results were very positive and provided further range and clearer communications than CB’s historically have. After much discussion, both pros and cons, all four Route Coordinators unanimously decided that this is the direction to move to for 2025. As Kirk mentions in the post this means thatALL PACK LEADERSHIP WILL BE REQUIREDto have and use a GMRS Radio in 2025, i.e. All Platoon Leaders, APL’s, Tail Gunners, Road Guards, Chaplains, Medics, and Chase will need a GMRS Radio. Pack riders and FNGs are also certainly allowed to get a radio and listen. I would highly recommend reading Kirk’s post as there is a lot of information regarding recommended equipment, licensing requirements (for those that will be transmitting), and even the channels that we have the options to use (these are normally programmed by default in the radios) – https://rftw.us/2025-radio-comms-joint-statement-from-all-four-route-coordinators/ . While not required, the BTECH GMRS Pro has been the most popular model chosen so far. From reliability to functionality to price, this option seems to provide the most bang for the buck and received the highest recommendation from those who have tested them. BTECH has been generous enough to put together a package deal for Run for the Wall. If you use Coupon Code: RFTW you will get both the Radio and Wireless PTT button for $140. This deal available only at the theBTECH website.
As many of you have heard 2025 marks the 35th annual run of Run for the Wall as well as the 50th anniversary of the end to the Vietnam War. RFTW 2025 is the “Year of the Vietnam Vet.” We will have several merchandise products such as shirts, pins and patches supporting this theme. Central, Midway, and Southern routes will also be incorporating Vietnam Vet only platoons. There are a few more announcements to come regarding this and we will be providing you with updates as the information is made public.
Lastly, I have recently announced an event that I am hosting that hopefully aligns well with this year’s theme. If you have not seen it please go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1018190793169145/ to find out more. To highlight…on Wednesday 30 April 2025 I will be walking 58,276 steps, a step for every name that is on The Vietnam Wall. I will also be walking an additional 1,575 steps as a reminder of those that are still missing and unaccounted for. The first name is from 1959 and the last name is from 1975. This represents 17 years of losses our nation, their families, and their friends suffered. I will be wearing a 17-pound weighted vested during the walk to be symbolic of the weight this war bore on our nation. There is no cost to participate. I am simply asking those that would like to join me (I will be conducting this in Birmingham, AL) to simply make a donation to Run for the Wall. The amount is their choice, and they can choose to make it to a specific route or the general fund. If you would like to participate but are not local to the Birmingham area that’s okay. Do it virtually. If you would like to participate but for whatever reason you are unable to walk that many steps, that’s okay too. Pick a year and walk a step for each name that was lost during that time. Create a team relay and complete it as a collective. The options are many but the goal in doing this is to remind the nation of the accountability of all POW/MIA while honoring the memory of those killed in action, two tenets within the Run for the Wall mission statement. It is also a way to educate those who may not know about Run for the Wall and the role we play in support and healing. If you would like more information on the event or how you can participate, please email me at eric.fort@rftw.us. Also, general donations for support are accepted!!!
“To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.” This is why we ride. Together let’s make 2025 a year to remember and give our Vietnam Veterans the WELCOME HOME they so deserved 50 years ago.
Say their names. Tell their stories. Never forget.
Eric “Pitch” Fort
Route Coordinator – Midway 2025
