Run For The Wall Riders Roll Through Cookeville

Motorcycle riders from across the country rode into Cookeville’s Leslie Town Centre Monday as part of their Run For The Wall journey.

Les Williams serves as the president of the Run For The Wall organization.

“We’re excited about Cookeville because it’s kind of a special place for everybody here in the way we’re treated,” Williams said. “You have a great veteran population here, and we’re all veterans here on this run from all eras and all wars. But Cookeville represents to this organization probably one of the most energetic and supportive towns along this route.”

Cookeville serves as the only overnight stop in Tennessee for riders along Run For The Wall’s midway route.

Williams said city officials and residents are always supportive whenever the riders make their way through town.

“There’s something about Cookeville that our riders just love, and I think it’s the long motorcycle ride from the interstate to the town’s center, where we’ll gather for people to talk and have a meal together,” Williams said. “The people that turn out… I mean this is like a 4th of July parade in Cookeville.”

Riders are traveling to Washington D.C. for Memorial Day weekend as a way to honor fallen soldiers by visiting the Vietnam War Memorial wall. Participants will next travel to Ashville and Fayetteville, North Carolina, before making their way through Virginia into Washington.