Sgt. Grit's Rolling Thunder BS Page

Sunday morning May 25, 2003

I just wanted to share this picture I took on Sunday morning May 25, 2003. I was riding in the annual ride to the wall in Washington D.C. known as Rolling Thunder. I can tell you that I have never been so proud to be able to call myself a Marine, as I was when I saw this lone Marine standing in the middle of the street. He was standing there at attention, saluting until each and every motorcycle that participated in this event had gone by him. I don't know the exact amount of time that took, but I know that it was over three hours never moving from this position. After I took this and a few more pictures, a man stopped me and said "excuse me, I noticed you were taking pictures of the Marine there. You know he has been there all morning since before the first motorcycles rode past." I said I know, and he will be there until the last one rolls through. The man then said. "That's just amazing! That's an awesome show of strength, will and discipline." I looked at the man and said yes sir, and I couldn't be prouder to be able to call myself a Marine than I am right now.

Semper Fi
Mike Clark
2nd Marine Division 1988 to 1992

Vietnamese At Rolling Thunder

Hanging out with Pat and the Vietnamese at Rolling Thunder. This group is from Philadelphia.

Gunny James Gregory

Rolling Thunder 2002

As you all know, Darlene and I have just returned from the Memorial Day Ceremony known as Rolling Thunder. This gathering of military veterans and their families takes place annually in Washington D.C. It is a very large and meaningful grouping which involves hundreds of thousands of veteran motorcyclists from all over the world. It is almost a holy pilgrimage for most of the people attending and it attracts people from all over the country and even many foreign military veterans. The ending of this pilgrimage takes place at the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean and Vietnam Walls. Wreaths are placed at all the memorials with a large all day ceremony taking place at the Lincoln Memorial.

This is the first of a series I will be sending out beginning with the arrival of the group called Run For The Wall. They and many of the other riders from all over the country meet here to begin the ceremonies and then ride over to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a wreathe laying. Following that ceremony, the groups break up to their hotels and motels to prepare for the Rolling Thunder Parade which begins at noon the next day. This group of pictures is representative of the arrival and gathering at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Semper Fidelis
Ken

Rolling Thunder 2002: The Parade

The actual parade formation began leaving the Pentagon parking lot, on a hot sunny day at 1200 hours. However, due to the tremendous numbers of people involved, many were still forming in the parking lot after 4 in the afternoon. The veterans clubs were given 1st priority for leaving early. The first group to leave were the veteran organizers of the Rolling Thunder Parade. They were followed by the group named RFTW, (Run for the Wall). This group consisted of several hundred veteran bikers who had ridden across the country from California. Following those two starting groups were all other veteran's clubs which rode as club groups but in no particular precedence. The Parade itself was well attended by thousands of well wishers lining the curbs many of which were waving flags and calling out to us "Welcome Home". The welcome homes were especially poignant as most of us had been either ignored or vehemently abhorred by the general public when we came back. The parade and the ceremonies at the memorials were meant to heal and in a very important way they accomplished what they set out to do. I talked to many vets with gray hair and Korean and Vietnam medals who said they were ready to go back in and kick butt of those who would harm America.

A view of all the riders returning to their motorcycles as we had received the word to saddle up and get ready to move out. It gives an idea of how many of us there were as well as the dedication of the American veterans.

Leaving the parking lot for the parade. Just before we left, they released hundreds of red white and blue balloons to mark the beginning of the parade.

Here it is, the Capital. I wonder how many if indeed any of our elected legislators were watching us.



The final stop for the parade was the Lincoln Memorial where all the ceremonies took place.

Darlene and I went to the Korean and Vietnam memorials both during the day and then we came back that night.

Ken

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