Run for the Wall bikers set to roll through Topeka on Monday morning

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Bikers from across the nation rolled through Topeka on Monday morning as part of the annual Run for the Wall.

Bikers stayed Sunday night in Junction City before they were scheduled to take off early Monday along eastbound Interstate 70.

The motorcyclists stopped around 8:45 a.m. Monday at the Topeka Service Area along I-70 on the Kansas Turnpike just east of the capital city, where local groups came together to purchase gas to top off the bikes’ fuel tanks.

Organizers of the ride said more than 250 motorcycles were taking part in the event as of Monday morning, with more expected to join the group as it continues traveling east.

The Run for the Wall is an annual event that brings motorcycle riders together as they cross the United States en route to Washington, D.C., where they will honor veterans on Memorial Day weekend.

Among those riding through Topeka was Dan Gilman, of Evansville, Ind.

“Well, we’re a big family,” he said. “We get together and we ride for those who can’t. That’s our mission statement. There’s a lot of people, whether they’re wounded or killed in action -- that’s what we ride for. We want to make sure everybody remembers that we are here and we haven’t forgotten about the ones who didn’t made it back.”

There are three Run for the Wall routes.

The one taking place in the Topeka area is the Run for the Wall’s Central Route, which started Wednesday, May 17, in Ontario, Calif., and is slated to end on Friday, May 26, in the Wahington, D.C., area.

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DAN GILMAN

Run for the Wall

SONIA AMMANN

Run for the Wall

Alfredo Gomez

Run for the Wall

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An annual cross-country motorcycle ride that honors America’s military veterans came through Topeka on Monday morning.

13′s Phil Anderson caught up with some of the participants as they took a quick break just east of the capital city ...

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:00, Phil

More than 250 motorcycle riders from across the United States made a quick stop in Topeka on Monday morning as they continued their Run for the Wall ...

Several organizations came together to purchase fuel for the bikers and provide them with refreshments at the Kansas Turnpike’s Topeka Service Area along Interstate 70 ...

The Run for the Wall is an annual event that brings motorcycle riders together as they cross the United States en route to Washington, D.C. where they will honor veterans on Memorial Day weekend ...

Many of the participants who rolled through Topeka on Monday morning started the cross-country trip last Wednesday in Ontario, Calif. They’re scheduled to arrive this Friday in the Washington, D.C., area.

Many of the riders take part in Run for the Wall every year ... For Dan Gilman, of Evansville, Ind., this marks the third year he’s participated in the event ...

:45 Dan Gilman

Well, we’re a big family ... We get together... We ride for those who can’t... That’s our mission statement ... There’s a lot of people whether they’re wounded or killed in action ... that’s what we ride for ... We want to make sure everybody remembers that we are here and we haven’t forgotten about the ones who didn’t make it back ...

1:00, Phil

This year marked the 10th year for Alfredo Gomez of Belen, N.M.

1:04, Gomex

I always say, God willing, every year, if I’m able to, I’ll be on this ride ...

1:07 Phil, What brings you back each year, Alfredo?

1:10, Gomez

The camaraderieship and the honor in what we do -- riding for those that are no longer with us that made that ultimate sacrifice ... bringing awareness to our POWs, our MIAs and supporting these Gold Star family members ...

1:22, Phil

A number of participants, lkke Sonia Ammann, of Tucson, Ariz., have personal stories that motivate them to take part in the Run for the Wall each year ... For Ammann, this is the 17th year she’s participated in the event ...

1:34 Ammann

I ride for Keith Matthew Maupin ... and he was taken prisoner for four years, and his family didn’t know what was going on with him ... And I can’t imagine being that family member back home ... not knowing ... his remains have been recovered but there’s thousands who have not, and I so I ride for those who can’t ...

1:53

Reporting from just east of Topeka, Phil Anderson, 13 NEWS ...

ride for them ...