Rolling Thunder to attend annual POW/MIA demonstration
SANFORD Members of Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 will travel to Washington, D.C. this Memorial Day to take part in the organization's 21st annual demonstration in support of POW/MIA and veterans' issues.
The chapter represents the State of Maine. Working on issues for current and future veterans and for POWs and MIAs from all wars is the core mission of Rolling Thunder chapters nationwide.
According to Steve Malo, the vice president of Rolling Thunder Maine, this year's event will be especially meaningful in light of the recovery of the remains of Iraq war Prisoner of War SSgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin, of the U.S. Army, in late March.
The chapter will join other Rolling Thunder members and veterans groups from across the United States for the event, which drew more than 850,000 participants and spectators in 2007, according to National Rolling Thunder.
"We expect that number to be even greater this year," Malo said.
Rolling Thunder will host and honor the families of SSgt. Maupin and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty and Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez, who were both captured on May 12, 2007.
In addition, former Congressman Bill Hendon (R-NC), the co-author of "An Enormous Crime," an account of abandoned American POWs in Southeast Asia, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker for the program at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, May 25.
Highlights of the weekend are listed below.
Friday, May 23:
A Candlelight Vigil will start at 8 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at 900 Ohio Drive and will continue to the other monuments.
Saturday, May 24:
A barbecue will be held at Harley-Davidson of Washington, D.C. at 9407 Livingston Road in Fort Washington, Maryland, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be a U.S. Navy Memorial commemorative wreath-laying ceremony at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue at 11 a.m.
The "Saluting Our Troops" program will be held at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool at 900 Ohio Drive at 11 a.m. with keynote speaker Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF (Ret.), who is the president of Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation.
Participants will make an afternoon visit to patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital at 50 Irving Street in Washington, D.C.
Hospitality Night will start at 8 p.m. at the Hyatt Crystal City at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway. The event will welcome and honor families of POWs and MIAs, Gold Star/Blue Star families, and wounded veterans from Walter Reed Hospital.
Sunday, May 25:
Participants will gather in the Pentagon parking lots at Army Navy Drive and Fern Street for the traditional demonstration motorcade/ride through the city of Washington, which will end at the Lincoln Memorial. At the memorial, speakers and musical tributes by Gordon Painter, Paulette Carlson and The Vettz will round out the event.
Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501 C-4 nonprofit organization with more than 85 chartered chapters throughout the United States. Membership is composed of men and women; between 40 and 45 percent of members are non-veterans. The veterans who are members have served in times of both war and peace.
Although many of its members ride motorcycles, a person does not have to own or ride a motorcycle to be a member they just need the time and willingness to be an advocate for American troops, veterans, and POW/MIAs.
For more information about Rolling Thunder,
visit the organization's web site at http://www.rolling-thunder-me2.org.