‘Rolling Thunder’ Rumbles Through Washington D.C. in Honor of Nation’s Veterans (Video)

Thousands of bikers roared through the nation’s capitol on Sunday for a “Ride for Freedom.” The Rolling Thunder displayed American flags in a display of respect for those veterans who lost their lives in the nation’s wars.

The Rolling Thunder will take part in the annual National Memorial Day Parade today.

This is a story I hate to tell because it shames me.

The second or third year, as usual, we got rained on.

Only this time, it was a frog drowner.

My thigh high boots filled with water and sank to my ankles.

I thought putting a bandanna over my nose and mouth would help but I only succeeded in waterboarding myself for 40 miles.

When we got to the VA, I was the most miserable, mouthy, whiny, complaining bitch you could hope to never see.

I slopped across the parking lot to where the welcoming vets stood and a man in a wheelchair with no legs grabbed my hand and thanked me, with tears in his eyes, for coming, despite the weather.

I have never been so ashamed in my whole life.

Here I was, pissing and moaning over wet clothes and muddy hair, when this dear man probably slept in some godforsaken, stinking rice paddy for a year.

I hated myself.

It was a pivotal moment in my selfish life.

I squeezed his hand and said “Yeah, the weather ~was~ a bit soft” and grinned.

It will, even there’s NO chance of rain, undoubtedly soak me again this year and by God, I will ride there cheerfully and gratefully.

I see that we’re back to the position of raising funds for “luxuries” like soap and shampoo, again.

Funny how we’d been riding prior to the last 5 or so years to pay for real luxuries like big screen TVs and video games.

Cannot *imagine* what has changed.

:-\

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