Motorcyclists support new veteran memorial with special ride Saturday

Gov. Mike Parson was among the dignitaries who spoke Saturday during an event at the new Missouri National Veterans Memorial in Perryville.

Liberty Riders of America and Veterans in Defense of Liberty hosted the Missouri Vietnam Wall Run 2019 on Saturday, to honor POW-MIA’s that are still unaccounted for and to honor Vietnam Veterans.

It was the first statewide motorcycle run to the new memorial, which is an exact replica with every detail of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Members of the group departed from Springfield and St. Louis, with stops in Van Buren and Piedmont along the way. Approximately 150 bikes made the stop at Van Buren, along with other vehicles, and a charter bus for veterans.

Other guest speakers planned for the ceremony where:

• Major General James Livingston, Medal of Honor Recipient of Vietnam War

• Charles Crandell, Ex-POW Navy and awarded for his actions in the USS Pueblo

Incident of 1968

• Jim Eddleman, one of the founding members of the Missouri National Veterans

Memorial and Vietnam Veteran

• Jackie Smith, NFL Hall of Famer

Also joining the route from Springfield was Adam Sandoval, YouTube star who ventured out on a two year road trip, ScootinAmerica, to raise money and awareness for military and their families.