33rd Annual Run for the Wall to Stop in Mt. Vernon
Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/23/2023
10:45 am
Categories
One mission, three routes. The mission of Run for the Wall is: 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.
The central route of RFTW will be once again stopping in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, to fuel and have lunch on
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023. More than 300 bikes are expected to arrive in Mt. Vernon via I-64 to exit 95
at 10:45 a.m. where they will fuel their bikes at the Hucks located at 34th & Broadway. From there, they
will stage in the Rural King parking lot and parade to Mt. Vernon Airport where a dedicated committee
and a few student organizations from several area schools will provide a fried chicken dinner and other
amenities for the riders. A flag ceremony will be conducted by Mt. Vernon American Legion and Terri
Sullivan will sing the National Anthem.
“So many people and groups come together to make this a great stop for the riders,” commented
assistant state coordinator for RFTW, Angela Schrum. “Dave Parkhill is the State Coordinator this year
and has done a great job getting all the details lined out with the committee. Mt. Vernon Airport are
impeccable hosts, and the venue is ideal for the crowd. Our emergency services are integral in getting
the riders in and through Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County safely. It is a genuine team effort and an
honor to be a part of.”
Mt. Vernon is the only Illinois stop for RFTW each year. Funds are raised by the local volunteers to
provide a fried chicken lunch and help pay for their fuel
“It takes a lot of planning and organization to pull off the gas stop and lunch in the short time they are
here each year,” Parkhill added. “But it is an honor to show appreciation to the Run for the Wall riders
each year.”
Donations are still being accepted towards the fuel for the riders. They can be dropped off at the Mt.
Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau, 200 Potomac Blvd between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Checks should be made to Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc. with RFTW in the memo line.
Those who participate in the Run for the Wall can sign up to join the route at any point from California
to Washington D.C. Many people ride the entire route, while others join the pack for a leg of the
journey. Once they converge in D.C., riders are free to return to their homes via any route they
choose.
The pack will leave the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport at 12:50 p.m. and travel east on Route 15 to Wayne
City where they will get back on I-64 and continue their journey towards Washington D. C. for
Memorial Day. We encourage anyone who can to line Broadway between 10:50 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. All
times are approximate. Wave your flags and support the riders who say, “we ride for those who can’t.”
Travelers in Mt. Vernon on May 23rd during the time when RFTW is present should expect delays and
authorities suggest taking alternate routes of Richview Road or Veteran’s Memorial Drive, when
possible, between 10:50 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
More information about the entire Run can be found at: https://rftw.us/central-route-hub/