IT'S A MISSION - NOT A PARTY

For 30-years the Run For The Wall has made an annual trek across the country. Starting in Ontario, California and ending on Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Wytheville Mayor Trent Crewe

The entire trip takes about 10-day and is split into three different route; the Central Route, the Midway Route and the Southern Route. Since 2001 the Southern Route has entered Virginia on Interstate 81 at Bristol and made their way to Wytheville where they are officially welcomed and spend the night.

Over the years the town of Wytheville has welcomed the riders, turning their arrival in to a major event.  Each year when the riders roll into town the citizens of Wytheville line the streets waving American Flags, welcoming the riders with open arms.

This year as in years past the Volvo Plant up in Dublin built a couple of specially painted truck and have them on site to welcome the riders.  The graphic on these trucks are amazing and humbling.

The Riders enter Withers Park where an official welcoming ceremony is held before the riders are dismissed to check in to their hotel and then gather for a meal provided by the Wytheville Moose Lodge.

I have been driving down to Wytheville each year since 2013 and I am always amazed at the patriotism this this small town shows. They still stand for the Flag, they not only sing the National Anthem but do so with pride and enthusiasm and even the smallest child can recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

If you want a good dose of patriotism, visit Wytheville, Virginia about 4 p.m. in the afternoon on Wednesday before Memorial Day Weekend when the Run For The Wall Riders enter the town. It's an experience that you won't forget.

If you want to learn more about the Run For The Wall  please visit their website.

If you want to see the rest of the photo My Run For The Wall Flickr Album