Last modified: 03/10/11

2009 Schedule (Revised 5/09/09)

CLICK HERE for Events on the Weekend of May 15th - 17th

CLICK HERE to Download a copy of the Schedule, Route & Lodging Information

For the purpose of this year's schedule:

•  Gas Stops are averaged every 120 miles and for 20 minutes

•  On the road Lunch/Gas Stops are 30 minutes

•  Rooms need to be booked now!

  •  Blocks are limited and discounted price’s are for a limited time at some locations.

  •  For the best deals guaranteed, rooms should be booked prior to April 7, 2009

Carry the Flame begins their annual trek across country on May 11^th 2009 out of Barstow, California to Washington D. C. for Memorial Weekend.  Carry The Flame is a non-profit organization which promotes awareness regarding the needs of our veterans and their families.  Chairman of Carry the Flame King Cavalier III states “Our mission along this journey is to unite Americans, and render proper respect and support for all the sacrifices of the Military Family”.  This group of travelers includes Gold/Blue Star Mothers, Veterans, and Patriotic Citizens.  Each stop along the way there will be a ceremony of “Hope and Remembrance” which will encompass a lighting and passing of the Torch, and a statewide name reading of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan with a special guest present to render honors.  The torch will travel across country and conclude the 2009 ride with a symbolic lighting and passing of the torch, along with a complete reading of all the names of the fallen service members from Iraq and Afghanistan at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., Saturday at 5 pm on May 23, 2009.  This is open to the public, and it is highly encouraged that you come out and show your support.  Make a difference, reach out, show compassion for your fellow Americans in such a time of need.

Stops will include the following locations:  Barstow, California; Flag Staff Arizona; Page, Arizona; Window Rock, New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas; El Reno, Oklahoma; Conway, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Hurricane Mills, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee and Staunton, Virginia, before arriving in Washington, D.C. on May 23, 2009.

Carry The Flame is honored this year to have Tim Chambers a Marine of 14 years traveling with them.  SSgt Chambers’ grew up in Silverton, Oregon.  His Great Uncle died serving his country in WWI; his grandfather served in WWII; and his dad served in Vietnam.  Chambers moment of truth came on 9/11 at the Pentagon.  His courage on that day was commended by the Secretary of the Navy with a Navy Commendation Medal.  Chambers tireless dedication towards the spirit of volunteerism, lands him speaking at military funerals, teaching about military history, as he was a partner with the Korean War Commemoration Committee, and it was 8 years ago he had a permit and set up his display on the national mall educating Americans and giving long overdue appreciation to the Korean War Veterans.  That is when he learned about Carry the Flame, Rolling Thunder, and Run for the Wall.  The next year he reached out to Veterans in his dress blues, and ended up jumping in the middle of the road at the Rolling Thunder Demonstration and held a salute till every last motorcycle passed.  This feat lasted over four hours.  He received such an outpour of emotion from Americans all across the country that he made it his annual trip to D.C.  The longest salute was 61/2 as over 600,000 motorcycles drove by.  Chambers does this mostly out of his own pocket and he has returned the past six years

Chambers has volunteered his services through many organizations to educate and inspire others about the sacrifices made by our countries service men and women.  He has received awards from the USO, National Military Family Association, American Legion and Marine Corps.  He has established his own non-profit organization called Tim-for-America.  It’s mission statement is to strengthen the bonds amongst Americans through the spirit of volunteerism, by bringing Americans together to improve the quality of life of our less fortunate youth and heroic Veterans by means of nurturing, compassion and education.    In 2008, President Bush was very impressed at what he was doing on his own for his country and their veterans, he invited him to the White House for breakfast to include his wife and grandma. 

At each Carry the Flame Stop, Chambers will be standing with a salute during the lighting of the torch ceremony while the names of those fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan from that particular state are read...

(Below is an example to follow to promote your individual stop)

• Sunset ABATE and VFW Post 382 in El Reno, Oklahoma will be hosting Carry the Flame on Sunday May 17.  The event will open at 8 a.m. for registration with coffee provided. The Oklahoma Blue Star Mother Chapters have been invited to set up booths to raise money to cover postage for packages set to the troop.   Riders will depart at 10 a.m. to ride to Clinton to meet Carry the Flame and with police escort, are scheduled to arrive at the VFW Post at 12:30 p.m.  Lunch is provided, as long as supplies last, thanks to generous community donations.  A short program will begin at 2 p.m. with great music and guest speaker, Shannon Plaster, Oklahoma representative of the National Alliance of Families (POW/MIA’s) then the lighting & passing of the torch will follow with Taps concluding the event.

• Everyone is invited.  Please show your support by attending and encourage other military veterans and military family members to attend.  We want to show our solidarity that they do not stand alone.  

• Sunset ABATE will be donating funds through Carry the Flame to “Operation Purple” a summer camp program for military children, most with emotional needs due to deployment of parent.  This camp is sponsored by the National Military Family Association. 

Annual NAVAJO and HOPI HONOR RUN

MAY 12 – 14, 2009

• ( TENTATIVE SCHEDULE )

  • “ SUBJECT TO CHANGE W/O NOTICE ”

View a copy of the Schedule online - CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE to Download a copy of the Schedule

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Last modified: 01/21/11

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