Bikers on the Square brings in nearly 500 riders

There were plenty of roaring engines and motorcycles in Perryville on Saturday. The 11th annual Bikers on the Square event was held on the downtown square and it was a success, according to event organizer Robynne Duvall.
“Bikers on the Square for Veterans was amazing. Duvall said. “Mother Nature sure did bless us this weekend. She must appreciate Veterans as much as we do.”
The bikers event coincided with the Fifth Annual Missouri Vietnam Wall Run sponsored by the Veterans in Defense of Liberty and the Liberty Riders of America, and was timed in conjunction with National POW/MIA Recognition Day Friday and the annual Bikers on the Square event in Perryville on Saturday. Duvall said there were plenty of motorcycles who made the ride to Perryville.
“There were more than 350 bikes in the Missouri Vietnam Wall Run parade when it entered downtown Perryville Saturday afternoon with probably another 150 parked around the square at that time. Watching the bikes roll into Perryville is by far one of my favorite things about our event.” Duvall said.
During the inaugural 2019 Wall Run Program, Governor Mike Parson presented a proclamation recognizing the Vietnam Wall Run as “The Official Annual Ride of Remembrance in Missouri.”
This multi-statewide motorcycle run rode to the veterans’ memorial event and the Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Perryville (with the only identical Sister Wall to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in D.C.). A ceremony took place with featured keynote speaker Retired Colonel John Clark, who flew over 60 successful missions in North Vietnam and was a POW at Hanoi Hilton.

“One of the things that Vietnam veterans have to understand is that generations remember the name Normandy,” Clark said. “But start saying names like Hamburger Hill, people look at you strange. Vietnam was a special time and people don’t get a lot of recognition for it, but they should always be remembered for their service to our country. They are valued members of our military.”
Duvall is happy that the event honors the military and proceeds from the event will go to two local organizations that do so.
“I love that our event is for the Veterans,” she said. “The Veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow definitely don’t receive the love and respect they should. The proceeds from our event go to Camp Hope in Fredericktown, as well as our hometown Missouri Veterans National Memorial. Both places are a wonderful, peaceful place for Veterans to gather and reflect on the service they provided for our freedom.”
While a preliminary total was not available at the moment, Duvall thinks the event will raise more money than 2022.
The event committee will soon start talks for next year.
“Within the next month, the executive committee will get together to talk about this years event and then get started with planning 2024 Bikers on the Square for Veterans which will be September 20-21.