The rumble of motorcycle engines echoed through Lowell, Michigan on Sunday as Rolling Thunder's Ride for Freedom passed through the community for its 38th year.

More than 20 riders from Michigan Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 traveled from Grand Rapids through Lowell, stopped in Belding, and continued on to the state capitol in Lansing to honor fallen soldiers and raise awareness for prisoners of war and missing in action veterans, according to FOX 17.

A mission that started decades ago

The Ride for Freedom has operated for decades with a single goal: bringing attention to service members who have not returned home from combat.

"We do this ride this weekend on Memorial Day weekend and we do it all across the country to remember our fallen," said Mike Holmes, president of Michigan Rolling Thunder Chapter 4, according to FOX 17.

Rolling Thunder reports that Michigan still has 48 fallen soldiers from Vietnam who have not returned home.

Riders stop in Belding before heading to Lansing

The group paused at Denny Craycraft Veterans Freedom Park in Belding on Sunday morning before continuing to the state capitol, where they joined other Rolling Thunder chapters from across the state.

"We have a lot of families who have unanswered questions of their loved ones who gave all. And it is our mission to find those people and bring them soldiers back," said Marvin Dunbar, chaplain for Michigan Rolling Thunder Chapter 4, according to FOX 17.

Dunbar said the ongoing community support is what keeps the ride going year after year.

"Warms the heart to know that people out there still do care but yet we are out there still reminding people," Dunbar said. "Celebrating America is the Fourth of July, celebrating our fallen veterans is memorial weekend."

Mental health and VA benefits in focus

The ride carried another message beyond remembrance. Organizers said they want state leaders to understand the urgency of the veteran mental health crisis.

"There is a dark room that we as veterans can get into and it is really hard to find the light," Dunbar told WILX. "We want our politicians to understand that we need to continue supporting mental health and the VA benefits that are afforded to our veterans. It is so critical to keep everybody positive in society."

Dunbar estimated that around 200 motorcycles were in the fleet when the ride arrived at the Lansing capitol on Sunday afternoon. He noted that rain affected turnout numbers.

This marks the fifth consecutive year the local Rolling Thunder chapter has brought its demonstration to mid-Michigan, according to WILX.

What Rolling Thunder is

Rolling Thunder is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to advocate for the return of POWs and the identification of service members listed as missing in action. The annual Ride for Freedom takes place each Memorial Day weekend in communities across the United States.