Hundreds of motorcyclists in the 29th annual Run for the Wall took a stopover in Ashville Tuesday on their cross-country ride from Ontario, California, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

The riders arrived en masse around 12:30 p.m. to the event, located in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly in Ashville. Participants, each either the family member of a veteran or who served in the military, were able to rest and refuel before continuing their journey to the capitol.  

“It’s (was) a chance for…our little corner of the world to say ‘thank you’ to every one of the soldiers and military personnel who went out and fought for us,” said Brenda Kooiman, director of the hourlong Ashville stopover.

A re-enactment of the Battle of Iwo Jima was performed by the Marine Corps League in Birmingham, and barbecue made by Coach Romaine and Santos Printing of Gadsden was served while riders gassed-up their motorcycles. 

Run for the Wall was started in 1989 by James Gregory and Bill Evans, two Vietnam veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles.

The cross-country trip’s mission 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 annual 10-day ride strives to maintain a safe, supportive and private atmosphere in which participants can reflect and heal on their journey “in the hope they can return home to a new beginning.”

“There’s a lot of healing that goes along with the ride,” stated Kooiman. “It helps (participants) to know they’re not alone. 

This year’s Run for the Wall will conclude tomorrow, May 26, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. 

To learn more about the 29th annual Run for the Wall, go to www.rftw.us or visit facebook.com/RunfortheWall.