'The brand of freedom:' Harley-Davidson enthusiasts parade through Milwaukee on last day of 120th celebration

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- If you were anywhere near downtown Milwaukee on Sunday, you probably heard the roar of hot iron striking the pavement, as thousands whipped down Wisconsin Avenue for the Harley-Davidson homecoming parade. 

This marked one of the 120th birthday bash's final hurrahs, with motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world participating.

Willy Bolivar, or "Willy B" as he's more commonly referred to as, traveled with a group from Medellín, Colombia.

“Some arrived in Los Angeles and did Route 66, others came in through Miami and came over here, other ones came to Boston and rode over here, and several others also rode all the way from Colombia," Bolivar told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. "They took 22 days."

His group donned vests marked with their group's motto: hermandad, lealtad, libertad, or brotherhood, loyalty, freedom. 

“It’s a dream come true for a lot of us, especially on this 120th anniversary because this is the brand of freedom, and we are in the land of freedom," Bolivar said. "Viva Colombia!" 

For a group of riders from Indonesia, what stood out about Milwaukee was "all of the nice people."

A family from Monterrey, Mexico, added that making the trip to the Cream City was a special memory to have together.

Jorge Castilla and his mother, Adriana, came with 10 others from Mexico City, Mexico.

"It's a 506,000 mile-ride back home," Castilla said. "It's the best ride of my life."

Castilla said it was his idea to take his mom with him to Milwaukee.

“There’s not a lot of cool moms that ride with their sons, so for me it’s awesome," Castilla said. "It's Harley passion that brought us here."

Adriana noted that she was touched when she got the request.

“He told me, I want to go with you and my tears fell down," Adriana said. "I love to ride with him."

Riders staged at American Family Field before heading through downtown Milwaukee and ending at Veteran's Park.