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There will be plenty of motorcycles around town this weekend. That’s because the second annual Missouri Vietnam Wall Run, sponsored by the Veterans in Defense of Liberty and Liberty Riders of America, will be timed to coincide with National POW/MIA Recognition Day and the eighth annual Bikers on the Square event on Saturday in downtown Perryville.
“It will be a little easier on people who want to participate in both events,” Wall Run event organizer Terry Willey said.
This year’s edition of the Wall Run has been changed to a two-day event that will begin in Willey’s hometown of Springfield on Friday, September 18, with a contingent of motorcycles starting early in the morning and riding to Perryville and arriving at 3 p.m. They will attend the candlelight vigil later that night at the Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial. That contingent will then ride to Fredericktown on Saturday and meet up with another group from St. Louis and around the state, and ride in a procession back to Perryville for a special ceremony at 1 p.m.
The ceremony will have two Medal of Honor recipients as special guest speakers. They are retired Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady and Doc Ballard, a retired colonel with the Kansas National Guard and former member of the United States Navy.
Brady made multiple evacuations of wounded soldiers in bad weather and intense fire near Chu Lai, South Vietnam, on Jan. 6, 1968, as a helicopter pilot and was awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 9, 1969.
Ballard threw himself on a grenade to save the wounded men he was treating in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, in May 1968. Thankfully, the grenade had a defective fuse and only detonated after he threw it in the air. Ballard received the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970.
The ceremony will also honor servicemen that are still unaccounted for as well as recognizing former POWs and all Vietnam veterans. Willey said that is the whole reason behind the event.
“It was a rough war for those who made it back from Vietnam,” Willey said. “There were a lot of mistakes made with those guys. It’s important to us to try to correct that in some way and make sure they know that we appreciate what they did for us.”
Willey expects there to be many motorcycles involved, many more than the 500 bikes that attended last year’s event.
“According to our Facebook page, we have about 492 signed up to ride with us from our Springfield route.” Willey said. “That’s the same amount that we had all of last year, riding in one direction. I’m expecting the number to be much bigger.”
But with any event in 2020, Willey said that COVID-19 did have an effect on his ability to fundraise for the event. For those who attend the event, Willey is asking people to use common sense.
“I’m asking people to social distance and to wear a mask if they feel uncomfortable,” Willey said. “If you have any problems or illnesses, I would not recommend that they come.”
Whatever the turnout, Willey is excited for the event.
“I think this event will bring a sense of unity that we need right now,” Willey said. “It should be a great time.”
