VIDEO: Rolling Thunder rides through Prince William

For a brief moment on one of the area's busiest roads known for rampant delays and congestion, there was cheering, applause and smiles.

Hundreds of motorcycles traveled Interstate 95 on Sunday morning as part of the 22nd annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom in Washington -- a Memorial Day tradition in the Washington area that participants say was started to honor the memory of Vietnam War veterans.

And the raw display of horsepower lived up to its thunderous name.

With a police escort, a continuous stream of bikers revved their engines for nearly half an hour as about 25 people stood on Opitz Boulevard looking down on I-95.

Many standing on the bridge shouted phrases like "Thank you" and "Yeah, now that's how you celebrate Memorial Day weekend."

"It's just an awesome feeling to watch this every year, and it's an even better feeling when you actually ride in it," said Diane Condon of Montclair.

Condon, along with her husband and daughter, mounted bikes during last year's ride to the Pentagon in Ar-lington.

She, like many others, belongs to a Harley Davidson motorcycle owners group. It was through them she started participating in the event.

The Harleys and every other kind of motorcycle were out in force on Saturday at East Coast Harley in Dum-fries.

The motorcycle dealership welcomed hundreds of bikers with food and live music.

It was also a place for riders to share stories about the road, and for Vietnam vets to remember friends they lost in the war.

Gordon Westfall, along with a group of friends, rode his bike to Dumfries from his home in Elkhart, Ind.

The 66-year-old Vietnam War veteran said the 630-mile trip allows for some leisurely sightseeing.

But on the day of Rolling Thunder, he said it is about remembering the fallen.

"There are chills rolling down your spine when you get into the Capitol, because you're thinking about the people who can't be here," said Westfall.

The experience is something he wishes he could share with every family that lost a loved one during the war.

Kurt Ockershausen of Montclair owns the Harley dealership and says the event is more than just a simple reason for riders to show off their bikes.

"This gives them a great feeling of participation…it's not about just showing up and milling about…a lot of these guys have grown their hair out and dressed down, and as veterans, they've earned it," said Ockershausen.

The bikers who rode from Prince William County are all part of a larger celebration that took place in Washing-ton.

The bikers congregated in the Pentagon's parking lot until noon, and then went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Among other things the group focuses on prisoners of war and soldiers who went missing in action during the Viet-nam War.

Nancy Sinatra and the U.S. Army Band were scheduled to perform near the Reflecting Pool for the rally partici-pants.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.