Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — May 7, 2025 — The committee over the Time to Honor and Remember event is inviting veterans, patriots and community members to celebrate Memorial Day with its tenth annual honor ride and drive.

This free event is meant to bring awareness to Memorial Day’s meaning and inform people that there is an Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in Northeast Arkansas. Veterans and their families, motorcycle and car clubs and more are all welcome to join.

“We want everyone to join,” said event coordinator Cindy Holder. “Motorcycles, cars, trucks, street rods, Jeeps; as long as it’s street legal, they can participate.”

Participation in the drive is not required.

“We want to encourage the community, even if they can’t be a part of the event,” Holder said. “Whether they do the ride drive down there, whether they come to the cemetery for the ceremony, if they do both things, or if they can’t do any of it. We would encourage them to at least come out and line the parade route. Bring your flags, wave cheer to them as they ride by.”

Holder said the number of veterans and riders varies depending on the weather and other factors; however, they average as many as 150 motorcycles and 80 cars. It takes about five to 10 minutes for the parade to drive by, she said.

This event will take place on May 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with lunch provided by the Freedom Biker Church.

The ride starts at the Roy Wiles Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1991, located at 300 N. Airport Road and concludes with a remembrance ceremony at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in Birdeye. The route follows Red Wolf Boulevard south to Highway 1, where it will continue to Cherry Valley before heading east on Highway 163 toward the cemetery located at 3600 Highway 163.

According to the Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs, the cemetery is the final resting place for veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents. It is one of only two in the state, including the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.

The 100-acre property was purchased by the state in 2008, with construction beginning in fall 2010. The first interment was conducted in February 2012, when Col. Thomas Blake, an Air Force veteran, was laid to rest.

“We have a lot of veterans that will be in this parade ride, and we just want the public to take a few minutes, come out and show respect to it and show that they also remember what Memorial Day is about,” Holder said.