Memorial Day 2017: Ride Of The Patriots In Fairfax

FAIRFAX, VA — If it's Memorial Day, it once again is time for that rumbling liquid sound of bubbling Harley-Davidson motorcycles throughout the DC area. It begins Friday with a weekend full of activities origination at Patriot Harley-Davidson, 9739 Fairfax Boulevard, and culminates with the Ride of the Patriots that leads into Sunday's annual Rolling Thunder's Ride For Freedom and its more than 400,000 participants.

The parade beings 7:30 a.m. Sunday on eastbound Fairfax Boulevard at Captain Pell's Crab House, 10195 Fairfax Boulevard, and ends at Patriot Harley-Davidson That's where opening ceremonies begin at 8 a.m., and an hour later, the motorcycle riders will depart under police escort for the Pentagon. Bleachers will be set up for spectators.

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Veterans groups plan to offer food and drinks along the parade lineup, as well as in the Patriot Harley-Davidson parking lot, where's there going to be live music and bands Friday and Saturday, as well as the Sunday festivities. On Friday at 5:30 p.m., the Fairfax chapter of the Harley Owners Group will ride to the candlelight vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Here's a brief of history, provided by Ride of the Patriots organizers.

"Bikers’ participation in Rolling Thunder began primarily with Vietnam War veterans as a protest having a special focus on MIAs. The group has now grown to include over 400,000 riders from across the USA who participate for many personal reasons, though primarily to honor all veterans. Spectators join in the event all along the route to the Pentagon and on the parade route thru Washington, DC to pay tribute and to honor our heroes on this solemn occasion.

"Each year over 4,000 motorcycles of all makes and models from the local area as well as from points across the USA and Canada join us for the Ride of the Patriots. The bikers assemble in an orderly manner eastbound along Fairfax Boulevard (Lee Highway) starting at Patriot Harley-Davidson and then with the help of Police motor squad units from Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax and Arlington County are escorted safely to the Pentagon staging area to join the 400,000 other bikers for Rolling Thunder."

For a detailed description of the schedule, click here.

For a locator map, click here.

For general information, click here.

Image via Ride of the Patriots