Don't be surprised to see a few more motorcycles than usual today and throughout this weekend on the D.C. Beltway and other major arteries, as Veterans travel to DC for the Memorial Day motorcycle rally known as ROLLING THUNDER.
This annual demonstration was the brainchild of Vietnam Vet Ray Manzo, Corporal USMC, who rallied the support of retired Army Sergeant Major John Holland, head of the American Foundation for Accountability of POW/MIAs, Ted Sampley with Homecoming II Project at the Last Firebase vigil, retired Marine 1st Sergeant Walt Sides, president of the non-profit Warriors Inc, and Bob Schmitt who had a POW family member. 2500 people participated in that first rally at the U.S. Capitol in 1988, demanding government accountability for American soldiers who were Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). The event has grown each year since then, and recent Rolling Thunder events have brought together over 250,000 people in our Nation's Capitol.
Would you like to participate or watch Rolling Thunder?
There's no registration or membership required - if you can drive a motorcycle, you can participate in the Rolling Thunder demonstration on Sunday to express your support for American POW's and MIA's.
If you just want to watch, the best viewing spots are probably along the Arlington Memorial Bridge and Constitution Avenue. Nearby Metro stations include Smithsonian, Metro Center, Judiciary Square, Federal Triangle and L'Enfant Plaza. Portable toilet facilities and limited food and drink are available in the rally area in the North Pentagon parking lot.
Regardless of whether you're riding or watching, be sure to bring water and food, dress comfortably, and expect to do a lot of waiting around. I understand it literally takes hours for participants to file out of the North Pentagon parking lot.
SCH
EDULE OF EVENTS:
- Friday, May 28, 2010
Candle Light Vigil - 9:00 p.m.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC
- Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wreathlaying Ceremony – 10:00 a.m.
U.S. Navy Memorial
701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC (On the Plaza)
Saluting Our Troops - noon - 5:00 p.m.
Reflecting Pool Base of the Lincoln Memorial
Thunder Alley (Vendor Area) - Saturday thru Monday
22nd Street between Constitution Ave. and C Street, N.W. 
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Rolling Thunder will assemble at the North Pentagon Parking Lot - 7:00 a.m. - Noon.
Departure To Washington, DC - Noon (will take several hours)
See a Map of the Route
Musical Tribute - 1:00 p.m.
Speaker Program - 1:30 p.m.
A stage is located at the Reflecting Pool across from the Lincoln Memorial.
On the other side of Constitution Avenue on 22nd Street, after the rally, you will find “Thunder Alley” - the official vendor area for Rolling Thunder, which will be open from Saturday through Monday. Assorted vendors will offer merchandise that includes the official Rolling Thunder T-Shirts, unique leather goods, riding glasses, pins and patches, etc. Again, there will be limited food/beverage vendors and portable toilet facilities.
If you can't come this weekend, but want to show your support, you can click on the link to LIKE the Rolling Thunders on Facebook.
PHOTOS: Many thanks to Activerainer Judy Jennings for sending me these photos she took during Rolling Thunder 2009
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Sorry you are not allowing re-blogging. Have a great weekend.
Margaret-I was at Arlington Cemetery this morning and a significant number of attendees for Rolling Thunder were visiting gravesites and placing rememberence ribbons on the fence.
Roy, I hope you will "Like" Rolling Thunder on Facebook. That would be a great way to show your support. The link is at the end of my post.
Cindy, I imagine that's true. As they come into town for the weekend, visitors will want to visit Arlington and the Vietnam memorial.
I'm going to forward this to my cousins in DC...What a great city.
Hi Margaret, What is especially wonderful is how the Bikers have taken it upon themselves to honor those that so valiantly served our nation and for a while seemed almost forgotten. I was at our national cemetery here in San Diego when one of theirs passed and the tribute and parade of cyclists gave me goose flesh to watch them honor this life.
Ruthmarie - Thank you for doing that. It's interesting to observe how drivers will get out of the way to let the groups of motorcyclists pass as they arrive together in D.C. Some are actually staying in the outer suburbs, hosted by local motorcycle clubs. No matter what generation or political persuasion, I think most Americans are united in wanting answers for the families of POW's and MIA's.
William - I saw that one of the Rolling Thunder founders passed away last year, so it must have been him. I think this annual demonstration says something about us as a people that civilians can stand up en masse and hold our U.S. government accountable for its failings - and fail is certainly something they did for many years after the Vietnam war. It took demonstratations like Rolling Thunder to keep alive the memory and cause of our POW's and MIA's.
Margaret - I witnessed "rolling thunder" for the first time last year when I was in DC for my Nephew's wedding. It was AMAZING and I have some great photos. I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes a good portion of the time I was in DC. What a great city, and a wonderful tribute to our American Heroes.
Margaret: The gathering mortorcycles is always the clue that Memorial Day weekend is here. I remember living off of Route 66 in Vienna years ago and being awakened earlier than I would have liked by Rolling Thunder. It's a very loud event, but very cool to see.
Judy - I'd love it if you would send me one or two of your photos to include in posts about Rolling Thunder in future years - I'll be happy to give you credit for the photos. My email address is MWoda@mris.com.
Chris Ann - That's actually what reminded me... the sight of motorcycles on Route 50, most likely headed into D.C. for this evenings event at the Vietnam Memorial.
JUDY - Thank you, thank you, thank you for the photos. As you can see, I have substituted them for the stock photos used originally.
Margaret - My pleasure. As I mentioned in my email to you, I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat witnessing this event. I am very grateful for our American Heroes past and present. This is a very nice tribute in their honor.
Judy - Your photos inspired me to go this year, because I could see that the roadside crowds were not bad at all. We took the Metro to L'Enfant Plaza (the closest stop to our home), and walked just one block find a shady spot under a tree on the route. The parade of motorcycles seemed endless, and we left DC around 3 with them still coming.
Thank all of you for the kind comments about the mission and participants of Rolling Thunder. As a biker, and a participant of Rolling Thunder, I can tell you that I cannot help but brush the tears away every year.It is of utmost importance that our veterans from all wars, our POW's and MIA's are never forgotten....
All gave some, some gave all.