Rolling Thunder veterans group makes final ride through Washington

 

USMC Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers (ret.) salutes motorcycle riders as they pass by during the 32nd Annual, and possibly final, Rolling Thunder "Ride for Freedom" during Memorial Day weekend to support veterans and call attention to POWs and MIAs, in Washington, U.S., May 26, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Theiler

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Rolling Thunder motorcycles that descend on Washington, D.C. every Memorial Day weekend made their final ride on Sunday, ending a three decades-old tradition that was initially meant to serve to pay tribute to fallen and missing-in-action soldiers.

 

The veterans advocacy group, formed in 1987 by 73-year-old Vietnam veteran Artie Muller, got its name from a 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed "Operation Rolling Thunder."

 

President Donald Trump gave the group a shout out on Twitter on Sunday, where he pledged that the annual rides in Washington would continue.

 

"The Great Patriots of Rolling Thunder WILL be coming back to Washington, D.C. next year, & hopefully for many years to come," Trump wrote.

 

For years, the group has become synonymous with the annual Memorial Day celebration in the nation's capital, where thousands of motorcycles meet in the Pentagon parking lot and continue their ride across the Memorial Bridge toward the National Mall.

 

Late last year, the group announced it would be making this May its final ride, citing a lack of cooperation by law enforcement and rising costs of permits.

The Defense Department told ABC News that they support peaceful demonstrations and were prepared to support the 2019 Rolling Thunder ride.

 

In an interview with Reuters TV, Muller said that while this will be the final ride, the event will also mark the beginning of a new chapter.

 

"We're not really talking about a legacy here because we're not going away. We're just spreading out and we hope to get stronger. That's what our idea is on this, so coast to coast -- North, South, Midwest," Muller said.

 

(Reporting by Temis Tormo in Washington; Writing by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-27

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Headline should read "ROLLING THUNDER KILLED OFF DURING TRUMP PRESIDENCY".

heroes all, especially the F105 drivers. 

Now imagine the Japanese army having a yearly parade paying tribute to their fallen and missing, and calling it “Tora, Tora, Tora”

 

To be clear, it’s not the parade so much that I have a beef with; it’s the naming of it.

To be fair you get a whole bunch of Harley’s running at the same time they do sound like a bunc of large displacement radial aircraft engines aka rollilgthunder

12 minutes ago, Tug said:

To be fair you get a whole bunch of Harley’s running at the same time they do sound like a bunc of large displacement radial aircraft engines aka rollilgthunder

Fair enough, if that’s the reason they’re calling it that.

3 hours ago, Thakkar said:

Now imagine the Japanese army having a yearly parade paying tribute to their fallen and missing, and calling it “Tora, Tora, Tora”

 

To be clear, it’s not the parade so much that I have a beef with; it’s the naming of it.

Then don't participate.

22 minutes ago, Longcut said:

Then don't participate.

 

I don’t

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Late last year, the group announced it would be making this May its final ride, citing a lack of cooperation by law enforcement and rising costs of permits.

You can just feel the freedom...

14 hours ago, pegman said:

Headline should read "ROLLING THUNDER KILLED OFF DURING TRUMP PRESIDENCY".

The new green deal would have been their demise anyway.

5 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

The new green deal would have been their demise anyway.

https://interestingengineering.com/harley-davidson-unveils-its-new-electric-bikes

9 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

https://interestingengineering.com/harley-davidson-unveils-its-new-electric-bikes

Presumably it will now leak battery acid.

On ‎5‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 3:39 PM, pegman said:

Headline should read "ROLLING THUNDER KILLED OFF DURING TRUMP PRESIDENCY".

You think Trump ordered that?

Where's that shaking head in amazement icon?

On matters relating to the Vietnam war, Trump might better keep his mouth shut. 

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

On matters relating to the Vietnam war, Trump might better keep his mouth shut. 

Now chomper is that an oxymoron funney guy Donald keeping his mouth shut lol

On 5/27/2019 at 11:15 AM, Thakkar said:

Now imagine the Japanese army having a yearly parade paying tribute to their fallen and missing, and calling it “Tora, Tora, Tora”

 

To be clear, it’s not the parade so much that I have a beef with; it’s the naming of it.

They started it, they acted like animals during it  and they lost, they don't deserve such a day and of course there would be outrage, quiet rightly. 

Troll posts removed.

 

Edited May 31, 20197 yr by Scott