General’s Run for the Wall 2011

generallby Mike Jones

General and I departed Holden on May 20, 2011) for our 4th Run for the Wall.  We made it to Nevada, Mo. when the weather turned ugly. Hail, lightening and torrential rain. We pulled off the road to wait it out. The rain was not going to pass so we got back on the road. We stopped in Joplin to wait it out some more but it just kept on raining. It rained until we arrived in Tulsa.

We Ride for Those Who Can’t
One of the mission slogans of RFTW is “we ride for those who can’t.” Each year riders choose a fallen Hero whose memory they will ride for. Sometimes it is a name from the Wall or a family member or soldier they know of. This year General rode in the memory of Michael Cammarata. He was the youngest Firefighter killed in the Twin Towers. I wear a memorial bracelet bearing Michael’s name. The events of that day have been with me every single day. Just the numbers 911 have become a part of my everyday life. I see the numbers on my computer clock. I have had them show up in my check register. I have been parked behind vehicles at a stop light and the numbers were in the license plate. I have received emails and texts with the time being 9:11. The list goes on and on and on.

We carried a special 9-11 tribute flag with us this year for riders to sign and General and I will be taking it to New York to present to Michael’s fire house on the 10th anniversary. The flag was also held by a couple that were transporting some of the steel beams from Ground Zero to Washington State to be used in a memorial there.

Placing the Flag
General rode out to Shanksville, PA on the way home from this year’s Run and we placed the flag on the fence for a photo.

General enjoyed his visit with the school children of Spiller Elementary & Montvale Elementary. We passed out his second collector card with his photo on it. Each year people look for us and General has made many new friends and fans along the way.

Notable research websites:
• www.rftw.org
• www.littleleague.org/ media/newsarchive/08_2001/01mc_bio.htm
• www.nps.gov/flni