Members of Veterans of Vietnam Motorcycle Club and others wait to greet the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club on Sunday on its way to Washington, D.C. / Icess Fernandez/The Times
Dozens of U.S. flags decorated the pedestrian overpass over Interstate 20 west of Shreveport on Sunday in support of some of the bravest men and women in uniform.
And in the background, the memory of a local Marine gave the annual event a deeper meaning.
The Veterans of Vietnam Motorcycle Club, along with the city of Greenwood hosted a Salute Our Heroes on Sunday.
Volunteers met at Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church and walked across the street to the overpass where they hung dozens of U.S. flags waiting for the hundreds of bikers from the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club to pass by on their way to the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
"This is to say that we welcome them, and we appreciate them," said Theresa Sullivan, organizer.
The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club's Run for the Wall happens in two legs from California. One leg goes north; the other leg goes through the south. The goal is to reach Washington, D.C., by Memorial Day.
They hope that through their efforts to promote healing for families and friends of fallen and missing soldiers.
"As they come through, they'll see flags in support of what they are doing," said Donnis O'Bryan, state president of the Veterans of Vietnam Motorcycle Club.
At each state line, the bikers are being welcomed. The group on Sunday represented Louisiana.
The mission hits close to home to the Veterans of Vietnam organization this year. Volunteers gathered in memory of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dakota Ray Huse, who was killed in action Nov. 9 during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Before the bikers passed by, trucks, cars and 18-wheelers honked and flashed their lights as they passed by.
The longer the group was on the overpass, the more noise the passing vehicles made. By the time the bikers drove through, the group was over the top excited to see them as they waved and cheered.
"You get this big lump in your throat when they come through," said Mark Galloway, vice president of the local motorcycle club.
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