Memorial Day Motorcycle Parade Comes To Moreno Valley
The City of Moreno Valley Proudly announces that the annual West Coast Thunder Memorial Day Bike Run/ Parade will include Moreno Valley’s Sunnymead Boulevard on Monday, May 27, 2013. Mayor Tom Owings is thrilled that Moreno Valley is being incorporated into this honorable event. “Considering Moreno Valley’s military heritage and affinity, having the City of Moreno Valley as part of this parade route will significantly enhance the events of the day for Moreno Valley residents. Moreno Valley is proud to join West Coast Thunder and the City of Riverside in honoring our true American heroes.”
This is West Coast Thunder’s fourteenth year and the first time to make a major change in the parade route. Each year, the parade of thousands of motorcycles follows the West Coast Thunder Color Guard, and VIPs led by motorcycle police and the Huey Helicopter to show their support to our Veterans on Memorial Day Monday.
Event and Route Summary: Loyal bikers begin staging in front of Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson on Indiana Avenue in Riverside as early as 6:00 a.m. There will be an Ultimate Sacrifice ceremony in front of Skip Fordyce by the West Coast Thunder Color Guard and then the parade departs at precisely 9:11 a.m. in remembrance of the tragedies of 2001, to proceed to the Riverside National Cemetery.
In past years, after passing the Cemetery, the WCT motorcade had entered northbound I-215 off Van Buren Boulevard. This year, the parade will turn left at the Cemetery entrance at Meridian Parkway and enter the northbound I-215 freeway via the Cactus Avenue on-ramp. The parade will travel north to, and immediately exit onto Frederick Street /Pigeon Pass Road and continue eastbound on Sunnymead Boulevard. The parade will re-enter eastbound SR-60 at Heacock St., then continue on to Soboba Casino for a Tribute Concert.
Moreno Valley residents can look forward to honoring the fallen heroes of the U.S. Armed Services by enjoying the morning West Coast Thunder Bike Run/ Parade and by attending the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at sunset. Residents are encouraged to come out early Memorial Day Monday, May 27, 2013 to line up along Sunnymead Blvd. from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to become part of this new tradition. Just before sunset, residents are invited to attend a special ceremony that will be held at Moreno Valley’s Veteran’s Memorial in the Civic Center (14177 Frederick St., Moreno Valley 92552).
About West Coast Thunder: The West Coast Thunder Memorial Day Motorcycle Parade and the concert events exist to honor veterans who continue to fight for American freedoms and in memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
West Coast Thunder has been the major contributor of funds to the Riverside National Cemetery through their Support Committee. WCT’s financial gifts to Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee over these past 13 years have funded Cemetery projects including the purchasing of flower cones and the placement of flower bouquets and an American flag on the final resting place of our indigent and unaccompanied homeless veterans buried each month. For more information about the RNCSC, please visit www.rncsc.org
For details about West Coast Thunder, participation in the Memorial Day Motorcycle Parade, volunteer registrations and vendor information please go to the West Coast Thunder website at www.westcoastthunder.com.
For information about the City’s 2013 Memorial Day celebration, visit us at www.moval.org.