Annual Run for the Wall brings motorcyclists through Virginia

The three routes of the 27th annual Run for the Wall will converge in the commonwealth on Friday, May 22 in the Arlington, VA area and will bring several hundred motorcyclists to area highways. Motorists should be aware of the large numbers of motorcycles traveling together and the influx of cyclists on some local roads, as well.

Southern Route: After a brief stop in Bristol, the riders will head to Wytheville for the night via I-81. On May 21, the group will leave Wytheville on I-81, exit on 220 Alt. to US 460 and make a stop at both the Montvale Elementary School and the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford before continuing on US 460 and US 460 Business to Lynchburg. The cyclists are expected to gather at a Timberlake Road business in the early evening.  The next day, Friday, May 22, the group will leave Lynchburg early from a church on Greenview Drive via US 460 to US 29 and travel north to I-64 heading to Staunton where the journey will continue on I-81. The group will take I-81 to I-66 at Front Royal and will travel to Arlington and, then, to DC.

Central Route: Riders will leave Lewisburg, WVA on Friday, May 22 and will travel to the DC area via Staunton and Toms Brook via I-64, I-81 and I-66.

Midway Route:  On Thursday, May 21, riders will leave Wilson, NC and travel to Fort Lee and Hopewell, and Ashland, VA on I-95 and I-295. They will leave the next morning and use I-95, I-495 and I-66 to travel from Ashland to Quantico and on to Arlington.

On May 23 and 24, roads throughout the greater Arlington/DC area will be in use by significant numbers of motorcyclists associated with the Run for the Wall and other affiliations.

According to the Run for the Wall website, the purpose of this event 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); and to support for military personnel all over the world. The ride begins in California and groups of riders take several routes before joining together in the DC area. Along the way, the ambassadors of the groups visit area veterans’ health facilities and memorials.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and motorists are reminded that motorcycles are legal vehicles and have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as other motorists.