MEREDITH — Thursday night’s POW/MIA vigil in downtown Meredith will be a bit more special than usual.

Gov. John Lynch will be on hand to dedicate the newly state-designated POW/MIA Vigil-Freedom Ride Bridge on Route 104 near the center of town.

Also in attendance will be retired U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers, dubbed “The Lone Marine” for his work in the POW/MIA movement and especially for his stirring salute to veterans during the 2002 Rolling Thunder event, which has since become an annual event in which thousands of veterans ride their motorcycles through Washington, D.C., to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Thursday will mark the 24th anniversary of the first vigil held at Hesky Park, said Bob Jones, a local and regional POW/MIA activist, adding that the vigil has been held on every Thursday night since. This is the 19th consecutive year that the Northeast POW/MIA Network Freedom Ride has joined in the vigil during Motorcycle Week. Thursday is also America’s Flag Day.

But the vigil will be the serious and solemn occasion that it always is, as the movement’s message — that there has been a lack of effort to account for all service men and women missing from Vietnam and other recent wars, and that members of the armed forces are unaccounted for and forgotten — will be the focus, Jones said.

“What we’re concerned about is awareness to the issue,” Jones said. “Meredith has become the hub of this issue, and this is one day we do not lose our focus. This is not a dog and pony show.”

This year’s Freedom Ride will be dedicated to Sgt. Bowe Berghal, a prisoner of war who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan since June 30, 2009, Jones said.

Riders wishing to attend should plan on being at Lowe’s at 1407 Lake Shore Road in Gilford by 6 p.m., Jones said, as the lineup of motorcycles take place at 6:15 p.m. and the group will leave the parking lot at 6:30 p.m., accompanied by a state trooper escort on Route 3 all the way to Hesky Park. Those riding with a group are asked to come in one group and fall into the lineup; no bumping will be allowed.

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Mobile Vet Center will also be on hand to support the Freedom Ride. The mobile unit will be set up in Hesky Park on both Thursday and Friday for veterans and their families.

Also joining the ride again this year will be the New Hampshire Army National Guard. The National Guard Hummer will follow the parade of bikes to Meredith.

The vigil is not only open to bikers, however. Those wishing to attend can arrive by vehicle by way of Route 106 North, Jones said, and there will be plenty of parking.

dseufert@newstote.com