See official Sit Reps and special thanks below.

After yesterday's bad weather, many riders arrived at staging and the riders' meeting with stories about the hail damage and trauma of the day. We were ready to move on even though many had bruises from the hail. The weather forecast was good, and we steadied our course. Once again, Native Americans blessed our bikes. We had Krispy Kreme donuts at the TA Truck stop in Knoxville, TN, and lunch on our own at the Davy Crockett Truck Stop in Baileyton. Then we rode into Wytheville for a short program and the annual display of Volvo and Mack trucks shown by the United Auto Workers' Veterans Committee. How these trucks have more beautiful designs each year is beyond us, but they do!

The staging at Thunder Creek is Chattanooga is tough. Several riders needed a push back up the hill a bit from partners on the front of their bikes. "Small" things like numerous porta potties are appreciated very much here.

Above, Della Morris on her bike. Della is in charge of the Missing Man Formation. Right, Laurie Clay has been the RFTW State Coordinator for the Southern Route since it began eight years ago.

This is the third year for our wreath laying to honor the unknown soldiers in Silverdale Confederate Cemetery.

Two new and very competent chase truck drivers joined lead driver Gary Swope this year. What a blessing they were to us running at the back of the pack!

One of the secrets of "running smooth" is all of the team work and planning which goes on behind the scenes. Here Greg "Pied Piper" Smith, Roger "Cowboy" Mead, and John "Ice Scout" King discuss concerns. Left, Road Guards meet before the riders' meeting. Platoons meet after the riders' meeting. Below, the Road Guards riding in the front of the merchandise truck: Ghost, Pancho, and Spook.

Below, a highlight of the day at the TA Truck Stop in Knoxville: Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee!

Left, James "Gunny" Gregory, leader of the FIRST RFTW, with RetCol Army Nurse Linda Carter, and his wife, Patti, at the Davy Crockett lunch stop. Below, the Red Roof Inn in Wytheville refunded the payment of an injured rider who was supposed to stay overnight. They also donated lots of shaving cream, toothpaste, and tooth brushes to our collection for veterans and soldiers. Thanks for your hospitality!

Our visit to Wytheville is always special. Mayor Trent Crewe has ridden with us on several occasions, sometimes bringing along his son. This year the message boards on I-81 noted veterans on motorcycles. In the afternoon, we rode into Withers Park for greetings, viewing the Mack and Volvo trucks displayed by the Veterans Committee of the United Auto Workers, and two very special songs sung by Jerry Stone of GRC Productions, Inc. The traditional steak or chicken dinner was served by over a hundred people (it seemed) at Moose Lodge #394. Thanks to everyone there!!

Mayor Crewe rode in from the Davy Crockett Truck Stop with First Community Bank Vice President Jack W. Hunley in the Missing Man Formation. Jack is a Vietnam veteran who helped our leadership team with financial exchanges last year.

Rosalee Jude and Laurie Clay are above. Both May 21 and 22 were declared Laurie Clay days in Wytheville.

These are only a few of the hundred or so workers in charge of greeting and feeding over 400 riders at the Moose Lodge. What a marvelous meal it was! Below, right, a packed house watched Hollywood's interview with Jack Lucas. It warmed our hearts to see and hear him feeling ornery.

RFTW XX, Day 8 – May 21, 2008
Chattanooga to Wytheville

Good morning RFTW XX, Day 8. After a much needed rest, the riders assembled at Thunder Creek Harley Davidson for the riders meeting and the blessing of the bikes preparing for departure to one of our favorite spots along the route (our home away from home), Wytheville, VA. Preacher ordered some good weather for us through one of his “higher” contacts, and that request was delivered on. Before we left we had a Wreath Laying ceremony at the Confederate Cemetery and then the riders walked through the cemetery contemplating the gravesites of the many unknown Confederate Soldiers.

On the road at 8:30 am, we proceeded to our first fuel stop at the TA Travel Plaza in Knoxville, TN. We were greeted by Randy, the General Manager, and his staff, and CMA provided coffee and doughnuts for the riders. The morning was very brisk, so the coffee was much appreciated. Randy spoke with us for several minutes about how other travel plazas in the area have asked why TA was picked and his reply was his boss loves veterans, Randy himself is a veteran and management was directed to do whatever possible to make the riders brief stop as comfortable as possible. Randy, by the way, donned his leathers and rode with the pack from the TA Truck Stop.

After a flawless fuel stop and refreshments, it was off to Davey Crockett Truck Stop for lunch. Another Randy, General Manager of Davey Crockett, had a super idea to insure the fuel pumps were available only to the riders. He raised his posted fuel prices 20 cents higher than the local competition across the street, which caused every car coming in to turn around and cross the street. The truth of the matter was that the actual fuel price was 20 cents lower than the competition. For any rider that broke from the pack to fuel on their own because they thought the prices were too high…sorry about that. Also at this gas stop, we were greeted by Mayor Trent Crewe of Wytheville, VA who was prepared to ride the rest of the way into Washington DC with the Southern Route.

After lunch, we departed the TA Travel Plaza in route to the Virginia State line where we picked up our state Police escort. We hope the riders noticed the public information signs flashing on the interstate, welcoming Run for the Wall to Virginia and advising the motoring public to watch out for large groups of riders. Under escort, the riders arrived at the Wytheville Memorial Park for the afternoon ceremonies and presentations by Mayor “Trent”. A proclamation was read declaring both May 21st and May 22nd, 2008 Laurie “Airborne” Clay day in Wytheville. Laurie has been the VA State Coordinator since the beginning of the Southern Route and has done a stellar job insuring that all activities and transit through the commonwealth of VA have been seamless. It is because of the efforts of Laurie that we all have a home away from home in a wonderful community called Wytheville, VA.

We would like to thank Mark Peterson, Chairman of the Veterans Committee, United Auto Workers, for the magnificent display of the Mack and Volvo trucks this year. One truck depicted a tribute to the American Veteran the other truck had a POW theme. One cannot adequately describe these magnificent vehicles, the pictures do better, but experiencing them in person is the best.

After the afternoon ceremonies, the riders departed to their various hotels to check in and proceed to the Moose Lodge for a spectacular dinner. During the meal, I, “Hawgwash”, along with “Cowboy”, “Tadpole” and “Hollywood”, gave an impromptu presentation and greeting from Medal of Honor Recipient, Jack Lucas of Hattiesburg, Mississippi who spoke on camera from his hospital room. During the presentation, all the riders sat quietly and listened to Jack, shared some tears and a lot of laughter as “Hollywood” was given his new road name by Jack. If you want to know more about that interview, you need to contact at “Hollywood” at International Pictures FX and order a copy of the DVD. Jack Lucas has undergone several treatments of Chemotherapy over the past month. His most recent treatment was the morning after our taping. We are happy to report that Jack had the fastest recovery from this treatment compared with the others. He attributed that to the thoughts and prayers from all the RFTW participants and to the fact that several of us spent the evening with him and showed how much we cared for this National Hero. Jack is receiving the highest quality medical care and RFTW gave him the best medicine.

People in the Spotlight, Day 8

Laurie “Airborne” Clay – for your years of dedicated service to RFTW Southern Route as Virginia State Coordinator. If it wasn’t for you and your perseverance, we may never have had the opportunity to discover Wytheville, our home away from home.

Citizens of Wytheville, VA – who have given us a home away from home for many years and it just continues to get better and better. We need to clone you and place your values in other cities throughout the nation as an example of true patriotism.

Special note – we would like to recognize Motel 6 of Wytheville, VA for an extraordinary act of kindness and goodwill. We had a rider who had checked in, was injured an unable to occupy his room. Joshua Rush of Motel 6 refunded the cost of the room in a heartbeat and also sent his prayers out for a quick recovery to the rider who is currently recovering from his injuries in Roanoke, VA.

Respectfully submitted by MSgt Steve Hill, USMC (Ret) “Hawgwash”

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 in Virginia:

City of Wytheville, Virginia
Moose Lodge #394, Wytheville, Virginia
Mayor Trent Crewe
Jerry Stone and GRC Productions, Inc.
And hundreds of citizens of Wytheville, Virginia
RFTW State Coordinator for Virginia, Laurie Clay
RFTW Assistant State Coordinator for Virginia, Bob Atwell

Return to Run For The Wall - Southern Route - 2008