Rolling Thunder, Washington, DC

Rolling Thunder takes place on Memorial Day Weekend. The event was started by veteran Artie Muller and 2017 marks its 30th anniversary. His main mission is to see that any surviving MIAs or POWs are brought home. Their motto: “Never forget.”

This annual event is one for the family! I attend this every year that I can. Thousands of motorcyclists arrive from all over America. Mile after mile of cyclists cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge that connects Arlington Cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial. People, old and young, stand with flags waving on the bridge and along the nearby roadways. Boy Scouts and veterans salute and others stand with hand over heart to honor this event of remembrance. The final destination is the staging area in front of the Lincoln Memorial, but the surrounding blocks are teeming with attendees for the occasion.

For the cynical among us who think that such patriotic displays are somehow gauche, have at it. But as for me and crowds of other grateful Americans, we’ll support such grateful appreciation for our war veterans, living, dead or missing, any day of the week.