This is the 24th year of this happening, when motorcyclists come to Washington from all over this nation to publicize the POW/MIA issue. Many don't know it, but Americans have been left behind after a war either as "missing in action" or "killed in action" and "RT" began in 1987 to show concern for this issue. Today, although that cause remains central to its ideals, it has grown to include the idea of paying respect to all those who have sacrificed their time, devotion, and all too often their lives for our freedom.
The folks who made this trip to Washington came from all corners of our country, and I personally met people from Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Florida, Illinois, and North Carolina. I had never been to Rolling Thunder, but decided, since I had the time, I had to give it a go. It could not have been a better decision. Just being with all those "freedom loving people" filled me with an intense pride in our country. Let's face it, motorcyclists have chosen "freedom" just by their decision to ride. It is risky, but exhilarating, and it draws those who love freedom. It draws patriots! Why? Because freedom is the American Spirit, and there were at least 450,000 of them who came Sunday and rode to honor our troops, past and present.
Sure, they might smoke too much, and sometimes have tattoos over much of their bodies, and may be dirty looking (riding on the road does kick up a lot of dirt), but that's the essential expression of the spirit that takes its energy into battle against those forces that would ruin our way of liberty for all!
I have never been in the military, but the focus of this weekend and the intensity of the company made me feel ever more deeply the sacrifice of our Armed Forces. I don't think I will ever have another Memorial Day without those feelings. I visited the wall and looked up the remote names of those I personally met and knew (Wilson Halley from Indiana, and Roger Innes from Chicago) who did not make it back from Vietnam. Roger's body was not "discovered" for over 25 years after his death. What sacrifice and sorrow.
I knew Roger in high school and we both served as acolytes at St. Margaret's church on the south side of Chicago. He was a pilot, and was apparently shot down in Nam. Wilson was a promising junior from Indiana who I met at a Harvard recruiting meeting my junior year in high school. I believe he went into the Navy after college, and was killed in 1968. So many years ago, years that you and I have had because of their sacrifice.
I actually had some people tell me not to ride in Rolling Thunder because you have to arrive at 7am, and wait for 5 hours before the actual parade begins. Then you ride with "strangers" and it can be dangerous if they don't know what they are doing. But I rode anyway. I figured if the troops can sacrifice all they have for me, I can wait for one day in the sun, and ride to show my respect for what they all have given. Damn, what a good decision.
Whether we realize it or not, the troops mean a lot to all of us. Give them your support. When traveling, if you see a military person in an airport, go up, shake his/her hand, and thank them for their service. It's a small thing, but I'm certain their road is not easy, and "thanks" means a lot. Most important, when Memorial Day comes around again, do something. Go to the parade in your area, go to a Federal Cemetery and place some flags on the graves, or just take some moments to think about them--about those who have given all they could give.
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