Westside Story – Rolling Thunder

On Memorial Day weekend in May 2015, my good friends, the Canary brothers, Tom and Randy, invited me to join them along with one million of their close personal friends for a motorcycle ride called Rolling Thunder. Motorcycles from all over the country were heading towards Washington DC with one purpose and one purpose only. Rolling Thunder is a national effort to make certain all U.S. veterans, who became prisoners of war (POW) or went missing in action (MIA) are not forgotten. The first ride in 1988 was led by Viet Nam veteran, Ray Manzo and included 2,500 riders. Rolling Thunder wants all of our troops to return home.

I rode with 25 members of the Louisville, Kentucky, Rolling Thunder Chapter – 1. President Tim Centers was very welcoming. While this ride included more motorcycles than I have ever been with in my life, every single rider demonstrated complete dedication to the veteran’s cause supported by Rolling Thunder and along with that, impeccable behavior. There was no fighting or troublemaking. In fact when I looked up the term gentlemen biker, the dictionary listed President Tim Centers’ name for the definition.

Memorial Day weekend, May 27 – 30, 2016, is just around the corner. If you own a motorcycle think about firing it up and heading out to Rolling Thunder 2016. If you do not own a motorcycle, become a part of the crowd supporting this giant national effort.

When you think about what our POW and MIA military men and women have done and continue to do to keep us and our families safe, it is not much of a sacrifice to ride a motorcycle across country to honor our veterans. I felt good participating in this peaceful demonstration.

To feel the spirit of what a million riders and spectators can do to put focus on not forgetting those who were lost in war, click on my link 1, Rolling Thunder – A Marine’s Vigil.

Link 2 will take you to Rolling Thunder – 2016 along with the Mission Statement and brief history.

Link 3 will take you to Rolling Thunder – Kentucky Chapter 1.

Link 4 will take you to Rolling Thunder – Washington State Chapter 1.

Ride to Washington DC May 27 – 30, 2016. Rolling Thunder will keep rolling until all of our POWs and MIAs return home.