Motorcycles will roar through Jacksonville this Saturday as Rolling Thunder Chapter NC-5 hosts its 17th annual memorial ride. The event pays tribute to seven chapter members who have passed away, including Ron Relay, in whose honor the ride is named.
Bryan Dent, president of Rolling Thunder NC-5, said, “It goes toward the Coastal Carolina Veterans Cemetery, which is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Our goal is, another, is to be able to place wreaths on all the veterans’ graves that’s in the cemetery.”
Paul Levesque, past president of the chapter, emphasized the group’s mission, saying, “It’s a passion for us to, when we join Rolling Thunder, to advocate for the full accountability of our POWs and MIAs, and that’s what all of these seven members did up until they passed away.”
The ride will start and end at New River Harley-Davidson in Jacksonville. Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with kickstands up at 11 a.m. The cost is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger.