#Motorcycle
Memorial Day is more than a long weekend — it's a chance to honor those who’ve served. Across the country, veteran motorcycle clubs host events that blend tradition with tribute, many benefiting nonprofits that support service members and their families.
If you’re looking to ride with purpose this Memorial Day, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most meaningful events you should attend this year — and the causes they support.
Thousands of motorcyclists are set to gather in the nation's capital for the Rolling to Remember demonstration ride. This ride is hosted by AMVETS, a volunteer-led organization founded by World War II veterans that advocates for service members and their families. Its primary purpose is to raise awareness for over 80,000 unaccounted-for POWs and MIAs, as well as the veteran mental health crisis. Not only is it a spectacle — with reports of 20,000 motorcyclists in recent years — but it’s also a powerful display of support that anyone can join to pay tribute.
Another big Memorial Day motorcycle ride takes place every year in Riverside, California, where over 7,500 motorcyclists pack the streets of Indiana Avenue. Pat Delahunty first thought of the idea in May of 1999 while watching the documentary “Letters from the Trenches.” The next day, he called fellow Inland Empire Harley Owners Group® members for a small ride to the Riverside National Cemetery’s annual remembrance ceremony. The ride has been a tradition ever since. The annual ride benefits West Coast Thunder. This nonprofit organization has a mission of honoring and supporting our nation’s heroes by raising money to build and preserve military monuments and provide ancillary support resources to the Riverside National Cemetery.
In 1989, a couple of Vietnam Veterans traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles, talking to local radio, television, and newspapers about the thousands of men and women unaccounted for as a result of war. This journey led to the creation of a tight-knit community known as Run for the Wall (RFTW). If you’re looking for some serious mileage this Memorial Day, look no further than RFTW’s annual cross-country ride. The ride, or “run” as many motorcyclists call it, starts in Ontario, California and ends ten days later at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. You can choose between three main routes, including a southern, midway, and central route. After a brief stay in our nation’s capital, riders begin a three-day run to the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, IL to complete the “wall to wall” ride.
Hundreds of riders wake up bright and early on Memorial Day morning to park their motorcycles along Cave Creek Road outside Phoenix, AZ. The road is lined with countless American flags honoring veterans. Together, riders will stand in silent salute as family members proceed to the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona for an official state-sponsored event open to the public to honor our fallen heroes.
For over forty years, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Memorial Day Blowout has brought the sound of revving engines to Gulfport, Mississippi on Memorial Day Weekend. This annual motorcycle rally honors the memory of those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice while celebrating the freedom and community that comes with riding on two wheels. The high-octane event will feature motorcycle drag races, bike shows, and burnout contests for nonstop excitement. If you need a break from the revs and rubber, take a scenic ride along the Gulf Coast and soak in the views. Proceeds from the Memorial Day Blowout will support local charitable organizations.
On Memorial Day, hundreds of riders from eight starting points across Wisconsin come together at Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville. This ride started as a small run and became a tradition that brings veterans, supporters, and motorcycle enthusiasts together to honor those who served. Riders take scenic backroads, making fuel stops and sharing stories along the way before arriving at Highground for a warm welcome, a meal, and raffles. The day ends with a final procession through Neillsville and a 2:15 p.m. ceremony, where the names of Wisconsin’s fallen service members are read aloud — ensuring they are never forgotten.
Riders rally and attend events for many reasons, but at the end of the day, it’s about bringing like-minded people together. This Memorial Day, you can ride with them to remember the heroes who made this community possible. So, throw on your lid, fire up the throttle, and ride with purpose — because this one’s bigger than just the ride!
