BUNKER HILL — In 1990, Wilson’s KC Withers was in the U.S. Army attached to the 101st Airborne Division. He served in both phases of the Gulf War — Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Sunday, Withers and his 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle joined several hundred other veterans at Bunker Hill for a 45-minute fuel stop that was part of the more than week-long Run for the Wall, which will end May 27 in Washington, D.C.

Two days later, on May 29, Withers has been invited to carry the U.S. Army flag in the National Memorial Day Parade.

“I was really caught off guard,” said Withers, who received an e-mail and later a news release from Jill Etter, director of communications for the National Desert Storm War Memorial.

“I don’t know how they picked me, but it’s a huge honor.”

Withers has participated in nine Run for the Wall events. This year, he rode his motorcycle to Ontario, Calif., starting point for the event’s Central Route. The purpose of the 33-year-old run, according to its website, is to promote healing of all veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all prisoners of war and those missing in action, to honor the memory of those killed in action from all wars and to support United States military personnel from across the world.

Withers expects to ride almost 8,000 miles, including the trips from Wilson to California and then back home to Kansas.

That didn’t make him particularly special at Bunker Hill. Riders came from many states and one started in Canada and planned to take an even longer route home when the run finishes in Washington.

The first to arrive were the support riders. They piled out of trucks and off motorcycles to prepare the fuel pumps for the riders and perform other duties. The run, which includes two other routes, is so organized, the advance team recruited volunteers to stand around potholes so the riders could avoid them.

Withers said the ride can be grueling because of the swings in weather and other factors. Kansas was beautiful Sunday, but the 300 to 500 bikers encountered temperatures beyond the century mark for more than 200 miles en route to Gallup, N.M., where the veterans spent the night of May 18. As Withers talked to the I-R via telephone, the sound of chanting could be heard in the background from the celebration the residents organize yearly for run participants.

“When you do this once, you’ll want to do it again and again and again,” Withers said. “There’s never a better experience of seeing the United States than this.”

Withers served as medical crew leader, a job he has done several times. Riders don’t have to be veterans, but many on the ride appeared to be from the Vietnam era.

“These people are not young,” said Withers, who rides at the back of the run with other medics in case of an accident.

Riders, who planned to spend the night at Junction City Sunday were joined in Bunker Hill by local law enforcement officers, fire fighters, representatives from veterans’ organizations and others.

Withers, who was only eight miles from his home, spent part of the night with his family before leaving to rejoin the run.

As riders left Bunker Hill to continue their journey east on Interstate 70, Run for the Wall participants were greeted by supporters on the overpasses waving American flags and shouting words of encouragement and gratitude.

Perhaps the most moving sight, Withers said, was a lone farmer with his tractor in the middle of a field between Russell and Dorrance. The farmer stood atop his tractor waving an American flag as the motorcycles passed.

“It was amazing. I’ll never forget it,” he said.

Such displays are not unusual. Withers said the line of supporters when the veterans reached Gallup stretched eight miles.

“People love it when we come because of what we represent,” he said.

This year’s Run for the Wall comes as construction is set to start on a Gulf War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Withers, who has promoted the project from the beginning, said the memorial will stand near the Vietnam Wall and be visible from the Lincoln Memorial.