Military veterans and others traversing the nation on motorcycles to reach Washington, D.C., by Memorial Day weekend to pay homage to fallen comrades will make a pit stop in Coachella Wednesday, resting and fueling up for a continuation of their journey.
The “Run for the Wall,” featuring over 1,200 riders, began about 7 a.m. Wednesday in Ontario, with motorcyclists splitting off on three different routes from California to the nation’s capital.
“`Run For The Wall” is an organized cross-country motorcycle ride to honor our veterans, their families and friends and to raise awareness of those still missing — prisoners of war and missing in action,” according to an organization statement.
The group traveling what has been dubbed the “Southern Route” along Interstate 10 will be taking a respite in the parking lot fronting Spotlight 29 Casino, from 9 to 10 a.m.
The riders will be grabbing food, topping off their tanks and visiting with casino representatives and well-wishers before heading on, organizers said.
Other riders from California are bound for D.C. via the Central and Midway routes, traveling Interstates 70 and 40, respectively, and there is a halfway trek known as the “Sandbox Route,” running between the capital and the Chicago metropolitan area. However, that trip is scheduled after the riders have all assembled in Washington.
They’re all slated to rendezvous at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on May 25.
Additional information is available at rftw.us/.