Engines roared in Ontario Wednesday morning, May 13, as hundreds of motorcycle riders set out on the annual “Run For The Wall” cross-country trek in honor of military veterans.
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Nearly 900 riders gathered in the early morning hours at the Ontario Convention Center parking lot, 2000 E Convention Center Way, catching up and talking about ride plans, before they left around 7 a.m. on their eastern routes.
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The ride — split into three groups of 250-300 each and three routes, the Midway, Central, and Southern routes — will take participants through towns all across the United States.
The event is “to honor our veterans, their families and friends and to raise awareness of those still missing – Prisoners of War and Missing in Action,” the Run For The Wall website says. It starts in Ontario and 10 days later ends at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day weekend.
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Some of the nearly 900 motorcycle participants in the 36th annual Run For The Wall take the transition from the eastbound 10 Freeway to the northbound 15 Freeway in Ontario as the cross country ride begins on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Riders gather near their motorcycles as they prepare to take part in the 36th annual Run For The Wall at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Olivia Meyer, 3, from Placentia, pushes her toy motorcycle throught the parking lot of the Ontario Convention Center prior to her uncle Mikal Brevig, not pictured, taking part in the 36th annual Run For The Wall in Ontario on Wednesday, May. 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Run For The Wall participant proudly wears her vest displaying her past participation in the 36th annual event at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 motorcycle riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Some of the nearly 900 motorcycle participants in the 36th annual Run For The Wall take the transition from the eastbound 10 Freeway to the northbound 15 Freeway while others continue east on the 10 Freeway in Ontario as the cross country ride begins on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Some of the nearly 900 motorcycle riding participants gather in the parking lot of the Ontario Convention Center prior to taking part in the 36th annual Run For The Wall in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Army veteran Abel Rodriguez, 52, from Crestview, Florida, stands near his custom painted motorcycle as he prepares to take part in the 36th annual Run For The Wall at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Some of the nearly 900 motorcycle participants in the 36th annual Run For The Wall take the transition from the eastbound 10 Freeway to the northbound 15 Freeway in Ontario as the cross country ride begins on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Riders gather near their motorcycles as they prepare to take part in the 36th annual Run For The Wall at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
,Claude “Swissman” Nicolet, 71 from Pinetop, Arizona, attaches an American flag to his motorcycle as he prepares to take part for the first time in the 36th annual Run For The Wall at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario on Wednesday morning May 13, 2026. Nearly 900 riders, many being military veterans, will take part in the cross country motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. and will end over Memorial Day weekend with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The ride, which began in 1989, has crossed the country each year since it then, with motorcyclists stopping for meals, fuel, and cheers along the way.
At breaks and during evening stops, the riders are greeted by local groups, often providing meals or even fuel to show support.
Launch morning draws people from all over the region. They come to Ontario to participate in the annual ride or to see off and support those who are making the trek.
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For more information about the day-to-day ride, go to rftw.us