Motorcyclists Sunday made their way through Warren County in a tribute honoring prisoners of war.
U.S. war veterans and prisoners of war were honored Sunday during an annual tribute that gathered hundreds at the Warren County War Memorial.
The 17th annual event began with the "Freedom Run," a 50-mile police-escorted ride through Warren County. It began at the Goodwill Fire Company in Belvidere and ended at the county memorial, 2nd and Mansfield streets.
Organized by a local chapter of the Rolling Thunder, the ride is meant to promote POW/MIA Awareness and Veterans Rights. About 400 motorcyclists participated.
At the memorial, guest speakers paid tribute to prisoners of war and local war veterans. An "empty table" was used to represent fallen soldiers, a wreath was placed at the memorial and a bagpiper played.
More than 1K gather for Veterans Rally Point in Lopatcong Twp.
This year's event also honored Terry Lee. a U.S. veteran, former Warren County clerk and the Freedom Run's longtime organizer. Lee of Harmony Township died in January at age 68 following a battle with brain cancer.
Lee also was a Coast Guard veteran from the Vietnam War era and was known by many as "Mr. Warren County." A veterans memorial in Lopatcong Municipal Park, dedicated in May, also had been the vision of Lee and Bill Nixon, chairman of the nonprofit Phillipsburg Area Veterans group.
The 40-by-30-foot concrete pad and 24-by-28-foot pavilion includes a gazebo, sitting wall and memorial bricks, and it also honors Lee.
Freelance photographer Dave Dabour contributed to this report.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.