Viet Nam Wall-The Wall that Heals

[old2soon]

         Tuesday Sep 18 2018 I will be heading up to the airport at Lebanon Mo.-75  80 miles-to meet that Traveling Wall that Heals and help with the escort down to Ava Mo.-63 miles-and wait til it gets setup and after that head back home. Anyone in the area wants to ride with us we plan on being K S U around 1 P M-1300 HRS from the airport at Lebanon Mo. The airport is located on Mo. 5 just south of I-44. Sposed to be dry and warm in this here neck of the Ozarks!  Just an F Y I for a cursed Good scuse to ride!  The Fact I am a Nam Vet Might have something to do with my decision to do this escort.  RIDE SAFE.

[Bigwolf]

Good on ya Dennis.  I went to see that wall when it stopped here in Cookeville, Tennessee.

[PA_1999Valk]

I escorted the "Wall that Heals" on my 1973 Honda CB750-4 in August when it was in McKeesport, PA.  While I was a stateside Marine in 1969-1970 I knew two of the Marines on the wall.  I hope to escort the "Moving Wall" on 9/19 to Meadville, PA.  I also hope to escort the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall" on 10/10 to Export, PA.  I didn't realize that there were so many walls.

Carl

[DIGGER]

I was never in the military but have great respect for those who served.   I've been to the Wall in DC and I have been to the traveling Wall when it came to Houston 15 or so yrs ago.   Very Emotional place.   I have 5 high school classmates on the wall.

[old2soon]

I was never in the military but have great respect for those who served.   I've been to the Wall in DC and I have been to the traveling Wall when it came to Houston 15 or so yrs ago.   Very Emotional place.   I have 5 high school classmates on the wall.

         I've named them before and here goes again. Vincent "tiny" Meltzer LCPL Marine Corps-a Man da prez and I went to school with eons ago. Major James "Jimmy" Tremayne United States Army-my cousin. Both of these MEN Perished in Defense of The United States of America. The Names of both of these MEN who Died for what they Believed in-both Names have a prominent spot on the cuts of da prez and Myself. In all honesty I'd rather have both of them back than to have their Names on a Wall in D C and on our vests. BUT it is what it is. As a P G R we ride in a funeral escort with our passenger pegs down in case the person we are honoring wants to ride with any of us. My passenger pegs are ALWAYS down when ever I ride in case Jimmy or Tiny wanna ride with me. RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

While I know and understand the “Wall” is meant to heal, it only brings back painful memories for me.  Too many close friends a named on that “Wall”.  I still can’t bear to touch it.

Rams  

[old2soon]

        Left the micky Ds breakfast club here in Willow Springs near on 9 A M and after talking with other Riders doing what I was gonna do-Escort the Wall From Lebanon Mo. to Ava Mo. Not a single soul was visible as I passed the airport But I did find the Denny's and some M/Cs and some older cars-50s and 60s-were in the parking lot so I went in with the Riders. Couple glasses of iced tea they were just TOO cursed proud of-$2.46-And after we were done and fixin to head back to the airport I shoved my armored mesh into a saddle bag cuz it were so danged hot and humid already. Remember K S U at 1300 and we rolled thru the gate bout 10 of noon and there was more polished paint and chrome and leather than you could shake a stick at. And the motorsickles just kept arriving. After a lot of visiting and eyeballin they called the briefing. Some ahem "riders" did NOT have a clue as to what riding staggered actually means! Rough count before we left had approx 470 M/Cs but a P G R friend informed the news reported near on 530 M/Cs. Either number for a Tuesday is a GOODER number of M/Cs. A good portion of the Riders I talked with took today off. I've done a lot of Veterans Ride quite a few P G R missions and I've rolled with 4 Illinois Freedom Rides. But Today was the Most MOVED I've Ever been on a Veterans ride. As you come into Grove Spring Mo. on Mo. 5 South the school is on the east-left-side og the highway. The entire student body and the staff were lined up cheering laughing and waving American Flags. When we got to Hartville Mo-5 crosses Mo. 38 at Hartville-we turned West-right on Mo. 38 and my mind is going W T F-over. When we made the next right I KNEW zackly Where we were going. When we made the left onto school property the High school students then the Grade school students and then the 3d 2nd 1st geaders and the kindergartens were all out with the teachers and they were All waving American Flags. The scene from Hartville was repeated Again at Mansfield Mo. And as we roled into Ava Mo. and past the venue where the wall will be setup and onto the square at downtown Ava. Standing room only just barely begins to describe it. Most of the water in my eyes was NOT sweat. The absofrikkinlutely MOST moving Ride I've ever attended. I do NOT know bout where You live But Patriotism IS alive and Well in Missouri. Sorry boys and gals-no pics. Got back to my casa bout 6 P M-1800 I'm sunburned I'm tired I'm sore BUT DAMN it was a GOODER day to be a RIDER. Mid 90s most of the day and at one point I looked at my thermometer and it were indicating 103 Degrees F. REALLY TRULY ENJOYED MYSELF TODAY no matter how solemn the ride was. Near on 200 miles today. RIDE SAFE.