Posted on 05/27/2007 7:25:33 AM PDT by RDTF
Thousands of military veterans from towns across the country cruised into the nation's capital yesterday on polished Harleys and Hondas, filling the air with the unmistakable leonine rumble that, after 20 years, has become an intrinsic part of Memorial Day weekend in Washington.
The Rolling Thunder motorcycle legions, expected to reach several hundred thousand for today's parade from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, carry an annual message of moral support for U.S. troops fighting abroad, readjusting back home, and imprisoned or missing in action -- a message as relevant today as it was when a handful of Vietnam veterans founded the group in 1987.
"We want to make sure that the soldiers coming back now from Iraq or Afghanistan, whether full or maimed or dead, are being honored and respected in a way that we never were," said Ed Geoffrion, 62, a semiretired auditor and Navy veteran from Chicopee, Mass., with a tattoo of an eagle clutching an American flag on his left biceps. He has ridden his Harley-Davidson Road King to Washington every Memorial Day weekend since 1991.
Many of the bikers were Vietnam vets in their 60s, wearing gray ponytails and black leather vests crammed with badges, patriotic patches and military insignia; some were accompanied by their wives, sporting similar regalia. There were also several elderly Korean War vets in the crowd and a young Marine representing vets from Iraq and Afghanistan.
For some participants, the event had a theme of carefully nursed grievance, a permanent wound kept alive so future generations would not forget. Many Vietnam vets spoke with deep bitterness of being neglected and scorned after returning from combat 40 years ago, of having fought hard to win a war that they said politicians lost.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Thanks RDTF, DC was covered with RT yesterday... it was a beautiful sight. It will truly be amazing today.
ping
I expect massive MSM coverage. /sarc
What’s with the past tense for something that hasn’t happened yet?
C span coverage begins at 2 EDT. Antonio Principi to speak.
.
The Blessed ROLLING THUNDER Patriots also honored 9/11 Lifesaver RICK RESCORLA’s ‘Follow Me’ Statue unveiling at Ft. Benning GA one year ago:
(Pictures)
http://www.RickRescorla.com/The%20Statue.htm
.
Past tense??
Past tense??
Doesn't TV want action for their viewers to watch, not a bunch of speeches. Oh, a couple of hundred thousand motorcyclists rolling through Washington....never mind. I guess their cameras are too busy at a demonstration of 10 holding anti-Bush signs.
The accompanying picture, at least on the web, is a very nice picture, but it is of one man at the memorial. That picture could be taken any day of the year. It is not illustrative of the event they are covering. The Post sure doesn't want the casual reader to realize how many attend this annual tribute.
I did not see the print edition, but I hope it has at least one picture showing the huge numbers of vets who are there. I won't hold my breath.
Thank you, Ali.
This is wonderful.
Perhaps while these guys are in DC they could do a little house cleaning.
Here’s some nice visual, but there is no explanation of the purpose of Rolling Thunder by the author, which is disturbing, but you do get to see some pix of the happenings.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ycg2BI4XrWQ
Here’s also some GOE footage from March 17 that is worth viewing:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UAw9uNMD7Vk&mode=related&search=
Here’s some video from of all places CBS. It ain’t bad.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/27/national/main2857424.shtml
I know I am VERY late getting here...I like the maps! So we know who to call on when we need maps for GOE,eh? nicely done!!
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