Festus, MO – The roar of engines and the spirit of patriotism will fill the roads once again as the Seventh Annual Missouri Vietnam Wall Run takes place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19–20, in honor of National POW-MIA Day.

Hosted by Liberty Riders of America and Veterans in Defense of Liberty, the free, statewide two-day motorcycle event honors American heroes with coordinated rides, ceremonies, and community events across Missouri.

On Friday, riders will gather at Mike’s Unique in Springfield between 7 and 8 a.m. for a law enforcement-led ride traveling along U.S. 60 through towns including Piedmont and Fredericktown, concluding in Perryville. That evening at 6:30 p.m., participants will meet at Super 8 in Perryville and ride together to the Candlelight Vigil at the Missouri National Veterans Memorial.

Saturday morning features two major ride routes. In the St. Louis area, riders will depart from Gold Star Harley-Davidson in Festus between 8:30 and 9:15 a.m., headed to the Fredericktown town square. Simultaneously, a group will leave from Super 8 in Perryville to rendezvous in Fredericktown.

The Parade of Honor—a law enforcement-escorted procession—will depart Fredericktown between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. and ride to Perryville town square, where the bikers will be welcomed by supporters and the Bikers on the Square for Veterans rally.

Members of the public are encouraged to line the streets and hold American flags to honor the veterans as they arrive around noon. A ceremony will follow at 22 N. Jackson in Perryville, featuring guest speaker Col. Bruce Cox, a U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper pilot with 11 deployments.

After the ceremony, riders will head to the Missouri National Veterans Memorial.

The festivities continue throughout the weekend with the Bikers on the Square for Veterans rally at Perryville town square, offering live music, stunt shows, bike displays, food vendors, and a sky lantern ceremony at dusk on Saturday. Proceeds from the rally will benefit Camp Hope and the Missouri National Veterans Memorial.

For full event schedules and route details, visit missourivietnamwallrun.org or the event’s Facebook page.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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