COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (KMTV) -- Hundreds of motorcyclists pulled into Council Bluffs on Sunday during a stop on the Veterans Awareness Ride to Washington D.C.
"By the time they get there, there will be in the neighborhood of 300,000 bikes,” said Ben Wiese, the event’s coordinator.
At the Veterans Memorial Plaza in Bayliss Park, riders, many of whom are veterans, paused to reflect and remember those who served.
"It's such a great thing to come out here, recognize veterans, and keep them in the forefront of people's minds,” Wiese said.
The wall at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Council Bluffs lists the name of every veteran who has passed away in Pottawattamie County. They date back to as early as the Civil War, and as recent as the War on Terror.
"Emotions are like a roller coaster, you see these different memorials and your emotions go up and down," said Ray C. Adams, who has been on the ride since 1999.
The riders will stop at veteran hospitals, one in every state along their path, to visit patients.
"The smile on the veterans faces at the hopsitals that we go to, that is probably the favorite," Adams said.
They ride to raise awareness for veterans struggling today
"It's only 5 percent of the population, surely we can do something for these people. Some of them have housing issues, some of them have PTSD issues -- other medical issues. We need to help these people," Wiese said.
