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Region 7ATHE REGISTER-HERALD

Friday, May 24, 2013www.register-herald.com

Run forthe Wall

PHOTOS BY F. BRIAN FERGUSON★ ★ ★

THE REGISTER-HERALD

Joe Dragon, above left, retired U.S. Army ranger veter-an, gets a “welcome to his home away from home”from Monica Venable, retired Rainelle ElementarySchool principal, Thursday during the Run for the Wallevent in Rainelle. The two first met during the first yearof the annual event. In the photo at left, veteransride their motorcycles as Rainelle welcomes RollingThunder participants for the 25th year during Thurs-day’s Run for the Wall.

A veteran salutes Rolling Thunder participants Thursday during the 25th annualRun for the Wall event in Rainelle.

The Rev. John Steer, a former Vietnam war paratrooper, pays his respects to theflag during Thursday’s Run for the Wall opening ceremonies in Rainelle.

Gail McKinney, left in the photo above, and Al Chelly were among the crowd whocame out in large numbers to welcome Rolling Thunder for the 25th year duringThursday’s Run for the Wall event. In the photo at left, residents of Rainelle and thesurrounding area came out in large numbers to welcome Rolling Thunder motorcycleriders. Rolling Thunder is an advocacy group that seeks to bring full accountability forprisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA) service members of all U.S. wars.Their main annual event occurs on the Sunday before Memorial Day, in which mem-bers make a slow ride on a dedicated, closed-off, pre-set route, called Run to the Wallin Washington, D.C., referring to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.