Run For The Wall Returns May 22 and 23

Run For the Wall returns to Wytheville on May 22 and 23.

This cross-country journey of awareness and healing will enter Wytheville via Interstate 81’s Exit 70 onto Fourth Street at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22.

Residents are encouraged to attend the “Welcome Home Ceremony,” which will begin in Withers Park after the group’s arrival.

Following a brief ceremony, the group will parade down Main Street to their hotels. A dinner hosted by the Wytheville Moose Lodge will conclude the evening.

One of RFTW’s favorite Wytheville experiences occurs on Thursday (May 23) morning as students from Spiller Elementary School provide a special musical welcome program beginning at 9 a.m. in Withers Park.

Run For The Wall will depart with a Main Street parade at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Wytheville became a stop when the Southern Route of the mission was begun in 2001.

There are three routes from California to Washington, D.C. The journey takes the riders across the United States simultaneously for 12 days each May to raise awareness concerning the POW/MIAs from all wars that have never returned home. The effort was started by Vietnam Veterans who traveled across America on motorcycles, talking to local radio, TV, and newspapers about the thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from all wars. Their goal destination is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

which they reach on the Friday evening before Memorial Day. For more information, visit www.RFTW.org.