Annual Ride of Honor returns for fourth year to celebrate veterans
The 2026 Ride of Honor slated for today is set to feature numerous motorcyclists taking a route from Flying Iron Harley-Davidson off North Winstead Avenue into the Nash County countryside and through small towns before returning to the motorcycle dealership. The motorcycle ride is going to be the fourth such event. The purpose is to celebrate veterans and to help raise funds for nonprofit veterans-focused initiatives in Nash County. Mary Ann Knarr-Avery, the founder of the event, said she is pleased with how the ride has grown through the years. “I’ll tell you, when we started out, we only had a few people helping put this together,” Knarr-Avery said. Now, Knarr-Avery said, “We have an amazing team of people,” including ambassadors, a group of alumni and community leaders providing support. “And so, I see us continuing to grow,” Knarr-Avery said. “Every year, it’s a little bit better.” Knarr-Avery also noted that the Ride of Honor has grown to include what is called Project Built for Honor. Project Built for Honor resulted in what Knarr-Avery said is an approaching completion of transforming, in stages, the interior of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2057 off N.C. 97 southwest of Rocky Mount.
