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There were plenty of motorcycles around the Perryville Downtown Square this past weekend as a group of veterans and motorcycle enthusiasts took part in a special event.
The event, dubbed the second annual Missouri Vietnam Wall Run, was sponsored by the Veterans in Defense of Liberty and Liberty Riders of America, and was timed to coincide with National POW/MIA Recognition Day last Friday and the eighth annual Bikers on the Square event in Perryville.
Wall Ride organizer Terry Willey said he was pleased with the participation in the event with more than 800 bikes in attendance. That number was higher than the first version of the event that saw more than 500 bikes.
“We were happy with the numbers,” Willey said. “We had a lot of people that didn’t go on the run, but instead came straight to Perryville.”
This year’s edition of the Wall Run was changed to a two-day event that began in Willey’s hometown of Springfield on Friday with a contingent of 80 motorcycles starting early in the morning and riding to Perryville. That contingent attended a candlelight vigil later that night at the Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial. Then the group rode to Fredericktown on Saturday and met up with another group from St. Louis and around the state, and rode in a procession back to Perryville for a special ceremony.
That ceremony was originally scheduled to have tetired United States Army Major Gen. Patrick Brady and Doc Ballard, a retired colonel with the Kansas National Guard and former member of the United States Navy as guest speakers, but
neither were able to attend. Instead the guest speaker was Jack Jackson, a retired Marine Corps Colonel and state commander for Veterans in the Defense of Liberty. The ceremony honored servicemen that are still unaccounted for as well as recognizing former POWs and all Vietnam veterans
I have met two POWs in my life,” Jackson said. “They each shared a little bit of their story with me and the fact is that they were treated terribly and their lives were forever changed. We must never forget how that experience affected them. Many of them were in places that we had never heard of and helped defend this country and we should be extremely grateful for that.”
Missouri Governor Mike Parson attended last year’s event, but was unable to attend this year’s version. However, he did send along a statement that was read aloud. Congressman Jason Smith also did the same.
“We remember those members of the military that are still missing in action and those who were imprisoned during combat,” Parson said in the letter. “They are examples of what makes this country great. Their dedication was a critical factor in the success of our freedom and security. We are forever indebted to them.”
For Willey it was ceremonies like the one on Saturday that makes the whole event worth it.
“Our event is to support those who went missing in action,” Willey said. “They paid the ultimate price so that we can have events like this one. How can you put a price on that kind of freedom?”
The Wall Run is scheduled to make a stop in Perryville again next year on September 17-18, 2021.
“We couldn’t have made this happen without the people of Perryville,” Willey said. “They are some of the most patriotic people that I‘ve been around and we enjoyed every minute of it.”
