Run For The Wall now in DC, will go to the Wall tomorrow

May 22, 5:51 PMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

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A bike gets blessed

The Run For The Wall processions have now reached Washington, DC. Tomorrow they will head to the Wall, the Vietnam War Memorial. We've been following Glenn and Cathy Buchholz, a Denver-area couple, who are on the ride. Here's their latest update.

Yesterday, Day 9, after the pledge and a prayer we rode from Hurricane, WV ,to Rainelle/Lewisburg WV. With a stop at the capitol building. We were going to start out around 8:30 this morning; however there was a bad accident on the Iinterstate so we didn’t get out of Hurricane until 9:15 a.m.

While waiting for the time to pass I, Glenn, was talking to a man who was reevaluating his life so to say. He admitted he needed to change some things back to the way they were when he was attending church. He had gotten away from church and knew he needed to get back. I blessed his bike along with him of course with prayer. He was very much moved by that. He put the sticker on his helmet along with all the other stickers he had collected from the different rallies and such. We both have been able to talk seriously to many of the riders along the route. It’s been real blessed.

We rode a few miles to the West Virginia Gold Dome Main Capitol Rotunda to visit the West Virginia Veterans Memorial. The pack road right up to the front steps in a large circle in front of it. It was a beautiful sunny warm morning and the Capitol Dome gold shone brightly in the sun. It was beautiful. We always take a group picture of all the riders and there is a short ceremony to follow.

Leaving the Capitol we rode through part of the city and on up to Rainelle, WV. There are some wonderful rolling hills and winding curves, just perfect for a motorcycle, and we were privileged to ride through them on our way to Rainelle. We tried to just cruise along the roadway, however with 22 of us and not all of us having ridden in the hills before we were pretty careful as this is a coal mining area and the roadways have quite a bit of coal dust along the side and middle of the road. The dust was flying in our eyes and in the beards to make them quite dark, especially the white bearded men. The scenery here in West Virginia is wonderful to look at with large ranches and farm lands and  many older houses and barns.

Rainelle is a small town in the mountains and RFTW helps to support the elementary school there. To learn more about how the support for Rainelle got started go to www.RFTW.com. Every morning at the morning meeting of the riders they take up a collection of change for Rainelle. As we were riding through the hills and the small towns we were met by many people waving flags greeting us as we drove through. It is very heart-warming to see so much support for the Run for the Wall. As we entered Rainelle the whole town was standing on the sides of the roadway waving flags and shouting. It seems all the children from the schools were let out early today to cheer us on. It was quite a parade and a privilege to be a part of. 

Everyone parked alongside the street beside the Rainelle Elementary School, and once off the bikes all the children came running up to the bikers for autographs. They had shirts to sign and small books they had made to sign. Many of the bikers gave out pins and bracelets to the kids. It really is quite a sight. One little boy named Chase came up to us for an autograph and we asked him what grade he was in. He told us he was pre K. A little girl who was with him whispered to him and he said that’s pre kindergarten. They both were very cute. We asked him what he was majoring in at school. He got a look on his face and we said what are the classes you want to take. He thought some more and said “bike classes.” We laughed as he did also.

I, Glenn, was signing another little girl's book when she saw me sign it off as oldtimer, my road name, and behind that RFTW “09.” I asked her if she knew what that meant, then explained it was run for the wall. She said “I know the wall is a place where names are written of people that died.” I have to admit it choked me up for a few seconds that those children are being taught that freedom isn’t free at that young age. I regained my composure and signed another book.

Was a great day of laughter and feelings. The kids were extra young and very patriotic. We had a great ride through the hills with only a few mishaps. Two bikes went down on a set of railroad tracks that cut the road diagonally. Very slippery to say the least. The run always has a road guard there to warn them but seems as if there is always someone that goes down. We also had a bike go into the side of the hill into some really soft dirt and mud. No injury and no harm done to the bike. The man thanked me for the prayers along the way after that incident.

Time to hit the bed for tonight. People in the run are getting more anxious and tired the further we go. One more day to the Wall. By the way, can’t get into the email this evening so will send this out tomorrow I suppose.

Today, Day 10, Washington, DC

After a breakfast provided by the hotel we relieved the Road Guards for their meeting. On walking back to the hotel I, Cathy, encountered one of our Fuel Crew members and he shared with me his story of being honored by carrying a good friend's ashes to the Wall as he had never gotten to go there. He has put ashes at each memorial we have visited along the way along with a picture being taken at the memorial. He plans to scatter the rest at the Vietnam Memorial, The Wall.  As he was telling me the story he was in tears and I had an opportunity to pray with him. He was being honored with an invitation to ride in the Missing Man Formation this morning from the hotel to the first fuel stop. He was going to scatter some ashes along the way.

In talking with the riders at the various fuel stops and morning meeting we have found that most of their hearts are softening to prayer but it is getting harder the closer they get to the Wall.

While I was talking with the man about his friend, Glenn was doing another prayer, blessing a man and his bike who has been traveling in the fuel crew. He had a marvelous conversation about how simple it is to accept forgiveness and do away with being religious.

It was a very uneventful day as far as travel. All went smooth at both of our last fuel stops.  We also were met by an old friend, Doug Lowrey, who traveled from Winchester, VA, to meet us for lunch. He is a past member of our CMA chapter RMCR and says "Hi" to all the brothers and sisters in Denver. He also asked for prayer and received it as he is without a job at this time.

We were traveling  near the front of the pack and arrived at the host hotel without a hitch. The atmosphere at the hotel after we parked was that of jubilation. A lot of FNGs  turned their buttons upside down as they had finally made it. Many hugs for that first hour of reunion for everyone as the Southern Group of RFTW were there before and saluted as we came in.  We are anticipating a nice quiet evening over supper together.

The Lord has carried us all the way on His Wings. We mention that and everybody agrees. There was a lot of prayer every morning over the whole group by the ride Chaplains and many of the Christians that were on the run.

Tomorrow is a new day and we will wrap this journey up as we go to the Wall.