The annual Run for the Wall Motorcycle Ride traveled through Warren County on Monday and an outreach team stopped at the Tribute to Veterans Memorial in Warrenton to meet with, and commemorate, local Gold Star Families. 

The annual motorcycle ride travels across the country from California to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. and is supposed to commemorate the veterans who were Prisoners of War and those who were killed or declared missing in action. 

The run started in 1989 as a group of Vietnam veterans made the nearly 3,000-mile ride “for those who can’t,” according to the run’s website. 

Although the run travels through Warren County every year, this was the first time an outreach team had stopped at the Tribute to Veterans Memorial. 

They met with local Gold Star Families including Beth Vincent, who was there with her granddaughters Allison Vacek and Olivia Clarke. Vincent’s grandfather was killed in the line of duty as a pilot in the Korean War when she was eight. 

Fred Aldrich, of the Run for the Wall outreach team, spoke at the memorial about the importance of remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and honoring their service. 

“One of the things I am very, very grateful for are those who have stepped up and served in our nation’s military,” said Aldrich. “Those who have a greater sense than themselves, and a larger purpose.”

Members of Gold Star Families in attendance were presented with a commemorative star from the outreach team for their family members’ sacrifice and a prayer was said in their memory. 

“It says why do we ride? Because we say their name, tell their story and we’ll never forget,” said Outreach Team Member Glen Sierra. 

He continued saying the star was meant to represent a symbol for their loved ones, “we made a promise not to forget and as I said earlier, we intend to keep that promise.”

Sierra said they intended to make the memorial a permanent stop on their route moving forward. 

Vincent was moved to tears when she received the star with her granddaughters and expressed her thanks for the sentiment. 

“It’s an honor,” said Vincent. “It makes me feel like my dad didn’t die in vain.”

Clarke also expressed her appreciation. Even though her great-grandfather passed long before she was born, she said being able to hear more about him and his sacrifice made her feel closer to him. 

“I didn’t get to know him, but events like these make me feel like I did,” said Clarke. 

Also in attendance were Gold Star Family members Vicki Jaspering with her husband Phil and sister Patty Schroder along with Mark and Jaclyn Schmitz. 

Vicki and Schroder’s older brother, Charles Schwartz, was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969. The Schmitz’s son, Jared, was killed during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. 

The Schmitzes were thankful for the opportunity to share Jared’s story and said the ceremony was “heartfelt.”

“There’s many, unfortunately, that didn’t make it home, and each person needs each family to keep their story alive,” said Jaclyn. “That’s their legacy, that’s all we have.”

The Schmitzes also operate a nonprofit in Jared’s name, Freedom 13. They are working to build recreation retreat camps for veterans and their families to unwind in each of the 50 states. The camps will also serve as a resource for veterans who may be in need of services as the Schmitz’ plan to organize with mental health providers, VA benefit providers and other resources to make them available at the camps. 

They are currently working on their first camp, which is slated to open on 171 acres near Bourbon in Crawford County. 

The Tribute to Veterans Memorial will also be hosting a Memorial Day service on May 26 at 11 a.m. including a wreath laying for Gold Star Families followed by lunch at the Warrenton Elks Lodge.