Vietnam Veteran Died in Motorcycle Accident After Seeing The Wall

Vietnam veteran was making first trip to memorial
The Herald Bulletin
By Scott L. Miley

June 1, 2016

PENDLETON — Craig Van Brunt had hoped to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., for years.

This past Memorial Day weekend, Van Brunt, 66, of Pendleton, managed to see the symbolic wall Friday with about 80 other Hoosier motorcyclists participating in the annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom and Ride to the Wall.

Two days later, he joined in a demonstration ride urging Washington political leaders to find prisoners of war and service members still missing in action. After the demonstration, his motorcycle crashed on the way to the group's hotel. He died at George Washington University Hospital.

"This is something unfortunately that we have to live with," said Mike Clark, president of the Rolling Thunder Indiana Chapter 1, which organized area residents in the ride. "Most of us who ride motorcycles all know that once you swing your leg over the saddle, it could happen to any of us at any time."

Clark added, "At least he got to see the wall and participate in the Ride for Freedom demonstration. He got to accomplish his mission."
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