In June, local bikers helped the Winston-Salem chapter of Rolling Thunder lead the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall into Mount Airy. Soon, Surry County’s chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will have a biking group of its own.

Dan Hilton, who helped organize the Veterans Reunion that took place in Mount Airy in early June, explained that each chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America has its own biking club. The Granite City Chapter 1021 of the Vietnam Veterans, located in Mount Airy, now is starting a biking group.

“It’s a good idea to do it,” said Hilton.

The group will be part of Rolling Thunder, the official motorcycle club of the VVA. James Dawson, treasurer for chapter 1021, is working on getting the biking group up and running. He said the group is having signups now, and he encourages any VVA members with interest in motorcycles or classic cars to join.

“It will be mainly motorcycles,” he said.

Anyone who is a member or an associate of the local VVA can join the biking group, which will get its own patch soon.

“It’s slowly coming together for us ... There’s a lot of people interested in it,” Dawson remarked.

He said the county’s VVA chapter has been talking about organizing the riding group ever since the chapter was founded a little more than a year ago. The group will be connected with the VVA but will likely have its own separate meetings.

The purpose of the group is to hold benefit rides for people and groups in the community.

“This is what it’s all about — helping people in the community,” said Dawson.

The organizer said he hopes the group can get together a ride within the next 30 to 45 days. He said the group wants to work as closely with other biking groups in the area as possible.

According to Dawson, a lot of Vietnam veterans are interested in riding motorcycles, but not as many can ride now due to their age.

For him personally, Dawson said of biking, “That’s my interest. I just use that to help anyone I can.”

He hopes other VVA members will share this passion and join the group. Hilton said the veterans have different interests such as cycling that they share together.

“It’s just part of who we are as veterans,” Hilton said.

About 100 local bikers escorted the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall into the Veterans Reunion last month, and Hilton said this meant a lot to him.

“That was terrific of them. It brought tears to my eyes. I’d really like to see that every day, but I won’t. It’s a once in a lifetime thing,” Hilton remarked.

Dawson said at the event after the escort, “It’s for those that couldn’t ride, those that couldn’t speak for themselves.”

The Veterans Reunion brought more than the bikers to the reunion site in Mount Airy off of Sheep Farm Road. Hilton said more than 6,500 people came.

“It was very successful, and every year we’re going to do something,” Hilton remarked.

He said the group might sponsor another reunion or air show or a variety of other activities in the future.

Anyone who is interested in joining Chapter 1021 of the VVA can call the association’s office at 356-2085. People also can attend one of the weekly socials at Little Richard’s BBQ in Mount Airy on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. to see if they are interested in joining. On the first Tuesday of each month, the group meets instead at its office above Leonard’s Jewelry on Main Street to hold a business meeting.

Hilton said those interested don’t have to be veterans to join the group. Non-veterans can join as associates. The cost of dues for members each year is $20.

“It’s for anyone who loves America and wants to support veterans,” said Hilton.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.