Motorcycle Views

Rolling Thunder® Motorcycle Rally

By Walter F. Kern

Visitors to the Vietnam Memorial Wall

We parked our trikes and walked over to the World War II Memorial. My wife had been there last Christmas when she visited the White House. Almost no one was there then. This time was different.

The memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. The place was filled with people. It has both Atlantic and Pacific Theater sections.

From there we walked down to the Vietnam Memorial Wall. As this picture shows, it was lined with people walking by in both directions. Many were members of Rolling Thunder® but countless other visitors were there as well.

I've been to the Wall before but at a time when there weren't so many visitors.

Personally, I feel that it's better to visit when there isn't so much crowding. It's a place of deep sorrow for those who knew the people whose names are inscribed there. It's also a place that many have trouble revisiting because of the pain it brings to the soul.

The Vietnam Memorial Wall

The Vietnam Memorial Wall is not easily described to someone who has not been there. It holds emotion and pain that seems to be released as veterans and their families stand near it. You'll see various personal memorials all along the Wall. You'll see people taking tracings of names. You'll see people searching the Wall for the names of their loved ones. There is an index that allows you to find the panel where each name is located.

The Wall is the one place to which all Rolling Thunder® riders are drawn. It was near the Wall that co-founder of Rolling Thunder®, Ray Manzo, first walked up to vets at several POW/MIA vigils and asked for help. His idea was to host a motorcycle run to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate to the country that abandoned soldiers still mattered to their fellow countrymen.

He met with co-founder, Artie Muller, in a diner in Somerville, NJ to develop a plan in 1987 that became the first Rolling Thunder® in 1988.

My ride in Rolling Thunder® was a very small contribution to this effort. Hundreds of thousands more make Rolling Thunder® an effective force to assist veterans and their families in hundreds of ways. Why not add your own contribution by attending the next Rolling Thunder®. You won't be sorry and the country will be better for your participation.

<= Back to Page 3: The Memorial Bridge and the Streets of D.C.

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