Run For the Wall

Christiansen's Comments

First Published

Hinds County Gazette News Paper
Raymond Mississippi
 May 30 2013

I am writing this early morning, Monday May 27, Memorial Day.  Last Monday the Veterans riding motorcycles, passed through Hinds County, headed to Washington….making their annual Run For The Wall  

Run For The Wall recognizes the sacrifices and contributions made by all veterans who have served our nation.

Mission Statement: 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.
Philosophy: We strive to maintain a safe, supportive and private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning.
Goals:

1. To guide the participants across America.
2. To educate future generations as to the importance of accountability in wartime actions emphasizing that no one should be left behind.

I wanted my little buddy, three year old, Whit  to see the veterans on motorcycles.   “The Run” is impressive sight… hundreds of veterans participate. The group that came past us was the on the southern route, there is also a northern route, and as they travel the route more veterans join the band of vets.  By Memorial Day weekend there are hundreds and hundreds riding in to Washington.

 We stopped at the dollar store and bought an American flag to wave, so we could show our support for their cause.  Then we drove to the Farr Road I 20 over pass, between Edwards and Bolton, and joined a group of Bolton folks, many of the same people are there every year.

Whit

 To those gathered on the bridge to watch the motorcycles pass, it was both a solemn and celebratory occasion. I believe that to an appropriate response.

Many men and women have served in the armed forces, giving their lives, and far too many veterans sacrificed their sanity to defend this nation.

The cyclists, all they are asking, not for glory for themselves, but that those veterans and their families who each and everyday suffer the consequences of war, that they not be forgotten.

Keith Jenkins, himself a veteran, invited those gathered on the bridge to his house in Bolton, for a cook out…Pulled pork and all of the fixing…Grilled hot dogs, Jess Tackett was on the grill….Whit ate four hot dogs. We had a grand time!

Jess Tackett

And of course it is the right thing to do to make the day, a festive one, other wise their service would have been in vain.  Those men and women served this country, so we Americans could live, celebrate, and go on with our lives.

 Thank you

Love to all

Call if you need me

Christiansen's Comments from Hinds county Gazette June 02 2011

Okay first things first….

Very Urgent

We are having Bible School at the Edwards Presbyterian Church , July 20, 21, and 22...every child is welcome….so mark your calendars. But the reason I bring this up now is Lesley Cannada is organizing Bible school for us and she is in a desperate search of a camel …a real camel….You got one? I promise it will be well loved and we will not be trying to pull it through the eye of a needle.

Edwards Prebyterian Church

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It is not what you know, it is who you know…

I did not know Keith Jenkins except that he is the writer of the Bolton News. But I do know Doug Beard. Doug Beard invited Doug and Kay Turner and myself to come to the Farr Road Bridge that goes over I-20 to watch the Annual “Run for the Wall” , well the riders came through much earlier then in previous years, so we missed it , but we didn’t miss the neighbor hood cook out Keith hosted in his front yard….Hot dogs and hamburgers, homemade desserts, good conversation…. those Bolton folks are so hospitable and friendly!

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Speaking of Doug Turner…he retired recently and he has been working replacing the rotted wood on my house…as I said. Doug is retired, so he works me in when there is not something more fun to do….like cook outs and the like….Which suits me, I am retired too and no hurry. Doug is about finished with the front porch…Remember way back yonder I told you my back steps had been built as a temporary solution? So I asked Doug to put me on his list for new back steps….



Doug and Scout



Doug and were discussing the back steps… when I had an epiphany! …“I don’t want steps! I want a ramp! “ ……at first Doug was not sure a ramp was such a good idea, because right now he didn’t think I needed one. But when I explained I could just load my groceries, bottled water, etc in a cart and pull them up the ramp and how helpful a ramp would be getting those 50 pound bags of dog food to the back porch, I sold him…But I thought if both Doug and I think the ramp is a good idea…I just knew Kay would hate it…Kay is sort of my ecstatic advisor.

 I called Kay, and she did hate the ramp idea… vehemently hated the ramp idea….Kay didn’t care if the ramp would ease my burden, it was tacky …Then, way on after while she remembered Charlie, my old dog, and how his old bones are beginning to bother him…and she said, ”It would make it much easier for Charlie get in and out.” and with that thought, Kay was on board. With Kay Turner, Kay Turner it is all about the animals and their comfort and their convenience.

By the way, Kay and Doug son, Jeff will be in New York New York doing a show in June…so if you are in New York !

http://metropolitanroom.com/show.cfm?id=84640

Hey I got to go,

call if you need me or find a camel.

Post Script

We are in mourning here at 201.....My old dog Charlie died this week.



Charlie at my pre Chemo party
March 2006