Dispatch from Lebo, Kan. - Aug. 12, 2025

The dawn came easy over Lebo, Kan., a quiet town that had the look of any other Midwest morning - but today was different. By six o’clock, 15 members of Harold “Skinny” Spatz Post 323 were already moving out, safety vests strapped on like battle gear. Their task was simple, but vital: set the signs, stage the water and ready the road for what was to come.

At their back would ride an army of remembrance - two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, 168 strong, followed by more than 60 classic cars, all engines polished and tuned for the mission. They had gathered here because The Wall That Heals had bivouacked overnight in Lebo, waiting for its solemn escort into Emporia.

Twenty miles of Kansas highway lay between the Wall and its next posting, 20 miles that would be marked by thunder and chrome, by flags snapping in the breeze, and by the memories of men and women who never came home from the war that defined a generation.

They came from across the state - bikers and car enthusiasts, veterans young and old. Local families with children too small to remember assembled to watch this most meaningful event. All converged on Lebo for one reason: to honor the names etched in black granite, the names of those who gave their last full measure in Vietnam.

Wendy Charboneau, Post 323’s second vice commander, spoke with the conviction of someone who understood the cost. “It was a day filled with veterans sharing stories and camaraderie,” she said. “It was amazing to see the various generations of veterans come out to support each other, as well as the community and families.”

Registration opened at 0930 and was buttoned up by 1100 hours. At 1145, Ride Captain and Event Co-Chair Clay Childs pulled the convoy together for the safety brief - every rider, whether on two, three or four wheels, needed to know the terrain and the route. It wasn’t ceremony; it was mission prep.

And then, right on time - 1200 sharp - kickstands up. The escort rolled south, carrying The Wall That Heals to its 21st stop of the 2025 tour. Highway 50 opened before them, the engines growled, and Kansas bore witness once again to a ride that was as much about memory as it was about the miles.