The Southern Route of the  annual California to Washington, DC, Run for the Wall stopped for the night in Wytheville Wednesday and participants gathered in the city’s downtown park for ceremonies before riding out to dinner at the local Moose Lodge.

Vets young and old participated in the ride.

Fred Hendrick (above), a 92-year-old World War II veteran who saw action on Omaha Beach during D-Day, spoke to the group and wished the motorcycle riders well.

The Run for the Wall is two rides: A Northern Route and the Southern Route and both converge on Washington on Day 10.

The ride leaves Wytheville Thursday morning and will stop in Roanoke for the night before continuing on the DC on Friday.

Their motto is “we ride for those who can’t.”

Another group, led by the United Auto Workers veterans group, leaves Dublin Saturday morning for a ride to the wall and Sunday’s Rolling Thunder.