JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – One Eastern Carolina veterans’ organization held a ride for freedom to bring awareness to the vets who are still missing in action.

“A lot of people don’t realize there are still people missing and that’s our whole mission to bring awareness to the public,” Rolling Thunder N.C. Five Vice President Bryan Dent.

Sunday, The Rolling Thunders had its annual ride for freedom. Beginning in Jacksonville, hundreds of veterans and community members rode over 40 miles through the outskirts of Onslow County to shed light on the number of prisoners of war missing in action, or POW/MIA.

“I think we still have 35 or 36 that is still missing in action here in North Carolina and other states there are many more,” Rolling Thunder N.C. Two President Mike Morris.

Included in the POW/MIA number is Cynthia Baucom’s father Master Sergeant Robert Anspach, who went missing in Vietnam on September 11, 1967.

“It’s important people show their support and acknowledge that there are still people missing in Vietnam and we all want them back home,” Baucom said.

According to Baucom, her mom was left to raise four kids with no support so on Memorial Day weekend, she said to cherish the time with your loved ones and remember the ones that are lost but not forgotten.

“Go have your cookouts go have your fun time with your family because you’re never guaranteed tomorrow,” Baucom said.

According to Dent, Rolling Thunder began in Washington back in the 1980s with two Vietnam veterans. Since then, it has grown and the rides for freedom continue each year.