GALVESTON, Texas — Recreational vehicles are a pretty common sight in Galveston, but next week one in particular will receive special attention.
This one is red, white, blue, yellow and has two large green maps of the United States on the sides. Not to mention a cheerleader and a large man.
The words "Reader’s Digest" also are plastered in a variety of locations. The RV is a central part of the magazine’s "We Hear You America" campaign, a road show that will hit 100 cities in 100 days.
"We’re traveling around the country showcasing the best of America, and we’re distributing $7.5 million to towns along the way," said Jay Ramos, one of three Reader’s Digest "ambassadors" on the tour.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the big bus will be on the island.
"We’re going to be at city hall for a ceremony, and we’re going to give the mayor a check for $1,000," Ramos said.
After that, the group will spend the rest of the day exploring the island and visiting with residents.
The tour began in New York City, and Mother Nature provided some excitement from the get-go.
"When we first started, we went through some big snowstorms," Ramos said. "But the RV was great for us. We got through it one mile at a time, just like the locals have to."
The ambassadors have since hopscotched their way around the eastern half of the U.S.
They ambled through the Carolinas, down to Georgia, up to Kentucky and over to Ohio, then headed south again.
Along the way, they have gone to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and visited the Catfish Capital of Belzoni, Miss. It is the small towns that appeal to Ramos.
"Just being able to get around and see all of these places is great," he said. "The people are very welcoming, and they treat us like family members. They bring us food and welcome us into their homes."
One of those stops also produced a lasting memory.
"I’m afraid of heights, and we went sky diving in Florida," Ramos said. "It was pretty intense."
What possessed him to do such a thing?
"Well, we were in Deland, Fla., and we did the ceremony and they said, ‘You know you’re in the World Sky Diving Capital. Would you like to give it a try?’ And I wanted to experience the best of America, so I said, ‘Yeah.’
"The scariest part was when I was up in the plane and then first stepped off. After that, when I was out in the air, it was pretty cool."
Galveston might not give Ramos that kind of excitement, but he’ll be happy with some local flavor.
"We get to see all of these pockets of America and experience the things the locals see every day," he said. "It really does make you proud to be an American."
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com’s partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.
