The world’s largest and longest organized cross-country motorcycle run, called Run for the Wall, is making its annual stop in Cookeville this Sunday.
Run for the Wall is a group of over 300 veteran motorcycle riders who travel from Los Angeles, CA, to Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C. The purpose of riding the long journey is to honor veterans by riding for those who can’t. Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau Marketing Director Tessa Davis said there will be a line-up-the-street event this Sunday to welcome the riders.
“We encourage everyone to grab their flags line Jefferson Avenue and show them the support and the gratitude that they’ve earned, and if any business along that route would like to update their sign that says ‘Welcome Run for the Wall’, or ‘Welcome to Cookeville’, we just want to make this a welcome this year that they will never forget.
Davis said the riders make Cookeville their only two-night stop in Tennessee simply because they love Cookeville. Davis said when the riders stop by, they make a difference in the community.
“They’ll go to I believe some nursing homes here, they go to our county schools, and they take donations money-wise, and items-wise,” Davis said. “They drop off a lot of things for the kids and for the elderly just to show their support to all of the veterans in our county.”
Davis said this will be the 11th annual stop that Run for the Wall has made to Cookeville. Davis said there are plans to take care of riders during their two-night stay.
“They are gonna be hungry getting off the roads, so we provide them meals for the two nights, refreshments, we provide entertainment so they can relax and have a little bit of fun, and they do their silent auctions and there are other performances,” Davis said. “We do a presentation and a thank you video, so we just kind of do this as a little something fun to stop and do along the way, and there’s no better place to do it than here in Cookeville.”
Davis said she needs volunteers to help line the streets on Jefferson Avenue from I-40 to the Putnam County Convention Center at 5pm on Sunday, May 18. Davis said volunteers and sponsorships are needed to help provide the meals and clean up the convention center.
