ELKINS — The Mingo Saloon and Lodge will host a POW/MIA Memorial Ride and Ceremony this month, with the procession traveling through Randolph County towns and into the City of Elkins.

The Mingo Saloon and Lodge is partnering with the POW/MIA Forget-Me-Nots, a non-profit volunteer education/advocacy group, to host the Memorial Ride on Route 219, along with a ceremony in Elkins City Park to honor Randolph County’s POW/MIA soldiers on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Mingo Saloon and Lodge Owner and Proprietor Joseph Sells, also known as “Little Joe,” explained that the idea of the Memorial Ride and Ceremony in Randolph County was inspired by the annual Ride For Freedom in Reading, Pennsylvania, which sees over 1000 riders every year.

“I got involved with it through the Vietnam Vet Motorcycle Club… in 1998,” Sells told The Inter-Mountain. “I always thought it was a great cause. I always participated (in the ride) and in the ceremony.”

When Sells moved to this area and realized there was nothing similar to the Ride For Freedom for West Virginia POW/MIA soldiers, he says he thought, “Well, we need to bring some of the spirit to West Virginia.”

The Memorial Ride will travel through Elk Water, Huttonsville, Mill Creek, Valley Bend, Dailey, Beverly and Elkins before concluding in the Elkins City Park.

Mingo Saloon and Lodge Co-Owner and Proprietor Jami Arbizu explained that officials have been reaching out to churches, businesses and fire departments along the ride route to see if they would be interested in participating. Local veteran organizations have also been contacted about the event, with VFW POST 3647 in Elkins stating that they were on-board, Arbizu said.

“We’ve been letting everyone know, ‘Hey this is when we’ll be coming through,'” Arbizu told The Inter-Mountain. “Come out. Come check it out. Get your lawn chair out.”

The event will begin at the Mingo Saloon and Lodge with breakfast starting at 7 a.m. The “Blessing of the Bikes” will take place at 10:15 a.m. and kickstands will go up at 10:30 a.m.

In Elkins, live music and a display of the Randolph County POW/MIA soldiers by the Forget-Me-Nots will be featured at the Elkins City Park starting at 11 a.m., with the bike procession expected to arrive at the park at 11:45 a.m. At noon, the memorial ceremony featuring honored guests will begin.

Participants in the Memorial Ride and the ceremony are welcome to return to the Mingo Saloon and Lodge after the event for an afterparty with food, drinks and live music.

Sells and Arbizu stated that officials want to make the ride an annual event, similar to the one in Reading, which is currently in its 32nd year.