The 20th Run For The Wall motorcycle ride is under way and expected to arrive in Big Spring Saturday morning en route to  the nation's capitol.

Veterans, friends and family left Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Wednesday and plan to motor in to the Vietnam Memorial grounds here about 10 a.m. Saturday for a wreath-laying ceremony. The public is invited to participate in the ceremony. They and other groups making the cross-country trip will join up to form Rolling Thunder's “Ride for Freedom” May 25 in Washington.

The purpose of the trip is to promote healing among all veterans, families and friends; to call for an accounting of all prisoners of war and missing in action; to honor the memory of those killed in action for all wars; and to support the nation's military personnel all over the world.

Run for the wall began in 1989 by Vietnam veterans James Gregory and Bill Evans, who traveled across the nation to talk to radio, television and newspaper reports about the thousands of men and women still unaccounted for in Vietnam, Korea and other wars.

The fundamental goals of Run For The Wall haven't changed over the years. It's a tradition for many families and in fact, participants have said the ride has helped them cope with their own war experiences.

Not all are veterans. There is no typical Run For The Wall rider. They range in age from 8 to 80 — from grandchild to grandparent. By the time they reach Washington, more than 350,000 motorcycles will be involved.

Along the way, the riders will stop at memorials such as the one in Big Spring, veterans hospitals and schools.

For more information on the event, contact Anne Perry at (979) 777-8707 or Kay McDowell at (432) 413-7678.