ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. -- Nearly 60 motorcyclists rode for a purpose Saturday for the 10th Annual Ron Relay and Rolling Thunder Chapter NC-5 Fallen Members Memorial Ride.

  • Event started in 2008 in memory of a chapter member
  • Group also creating North Carolina POW/MIA license plates
  • Memorial ride happens every year during the second week of July

First, riders began with a prayer and then got their helmets on to hit the road. It’s an hour-long, police escorted ride through Onslow County.

"We have had some fantastic members here that are no longer with us so part of this is honoring their memory. It's a big thing for us,” said Joseph Fore, vice president of Rolling Thunder Chapter NC-5.

The event began back in 2008 in memory of Ron Relay, one of the chapter members who passed away in 2007. The ride now also honors four others who've since passed away.

"They've contributed so much to the rolling thunder program that we love to give back to the community as much as possible," said Fore.

A portion of the event's proceeds go toward Wreath's Across America and supporting veterans in need.

 

 

 "We build wheelchair ramps, help pay some bills, you know, we like to work within our community here," said Fore.

Sheriff Hans Miller was one of those participants and he says there's one thing that stands out most about the ride.

“The comradery,” said Miller. “The comradery with our brothers and sisters and it's just means so much for those of us who ride and we do it safely and we do it for the right cause."

Through this ride, Rolling Thunder Chapter NC-5 hopes to continue educating the public on POW and MIA issues. They say more than 80,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from previous wars. The organization is trying to create a North Carolina POW/MIA license plate.

They need at least 500 pre-sold plates in order for the legislator to vote on it in February. So far, they’ve pre-sold about 300 plates.

"It'll raise a lot of awareness,” said Fore. “There's a lot of folks that sacrificed themselves for where we're at now, so we would love it if folks will go ahead and get on board with us with these plates," he said.

Rolling Thunder Chapter NC-5 does this memorial ride every year during the second week of July. They hope to have more people participate next year, and you don't have to be a member to ride along.

For more information on how to pre-order your POW/MIA license plate, click here.

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