Posted on 05/25/2008 5:50:37 PM PDT by mdittmar
THE PRESIDENT: It's been a pleasure of my presidency to get to know the leaders of Rolling Thunder. For our fellow citizens who don't know Rolling Thunder, Rolling Thunder is the moment in time here in Washington, on Memorial Day Weekend, when thousands of motorcyclers come to the nation's capital to pay tribute to those who have died in service, to those who sacrificed, and those who serve. And it's a magnificent sight.
We just choppered in, Artie, and saw your brothers and sisters cranking up their machines and driving through the nation's capital -- many of them have got the flag on the back. And I am just so honored to welcome you back. I want to thank you and all your comrades for being so patriotic and loving our country as much as you do. I think this is the -- I don't know if this is the eighth time we've been together here, but it's pretty close.
MR. Muller: Pretty close, sir - maybe one more.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, one more. (Laughter.) Anyway, Artie is the main man and this is his board of directors who have continued to rally people around the country. I went to Greensburg, Kansas, Artie, and I came into a town that had been destroyed by a tornado -- I was going to give the high school graduation speech, and rode in from the airport and the motorcyclers were all lining the streets with the flags and it made me feel great. When people go to protest at the funeral of one of our brave soldiers that died in combat, Artie's folks are there to make sure that those protestors don't denigrate the moment.
So you're doing a lot for the country.
MR. MULLER: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: And our troops appreciate you, the veterans appreciate you and your President appreciates you.
MR. MULLER: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Welcome.
and that folks, is why I love W.
God bless them
We should all join them next year. I don’t have a motorcycle, but I’d love to be a part of a big show on the mall, honoring our troops.
This Rolling Thunder has been a very positive thing.
Kudos to the participants.
Tip of the cap to Rolling Thunder. Stay free and brave.
Just awesome. This should scare liberals to hell.
incredible pictures. mind if I borrow them?
I don't think so. I just Googled and got the picture.
Bush often makes me mad with his New World Order, moderate, pro-Mexican, can’t we all just get along and sell the Americans out to the global multinational robber barons and Chinese.
Times like this he makes me proud.
Can you imagine Clinton the Rapist doing this? I’m sure it made him sick to his stomach to be involved in any ceremony honoring the military. Who wants to bet he gets buried in Arlington, which will really make me furious. I have vowed to piss on his grave when his STDs finally finish him off and I can’t do that if they bury him in Arlington.
They usually show a 2 second clip. I think CSPAN covers the ride. One year I watched it on CSPAN and after about an hour of coverage I got bored and changed the channels. A quarter million motorcycles slowly working their way up the mall and out to Arlington takes one heck of a lot of time.
It is a good visual for the MSM and they usually show a clip. I’m sure they hate the cause, of course, but they do show a clip of some bikes rolling.
This just in on AFPS http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50007
Rolling Thunder Storms Into Nation’s Capital
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2008 – A chain of about 750,000 motorcycles ridden by Vietnam veterans and military supporters blazed through the nation’s capital today as part of the 21st annual Rolling Thunder rally.
In addition to offering vets a chance to reconnect with their brothers-in-arms and honor fallen comrades, the ride aims to raise awareness about issues concerning prisoners of war, troops missing in action and veterans’ benefits.
President Bush this afternoon arranged for Rolling Thunder founder Artie Muller to be delivered by helicopter to the White House, where the two discussed topics at the heart of Muller’s nonprofit group.
“I am just so honored to welcome you back,” Bush told Muller at a news conference on the White House’s South Lawn after their meeting. “I want to thank you and all your comrades for being so patriotic and loving our country as much as you do.
“Our troops appreciate you, the veterans appreciate you and your president appreciates you,” added Bush, calling it a pleasure of his presidency to get to know the leaders of the motorcycle rally.
The parade circuit whizzed riders past national landmarks such as the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall, the U.S. Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial, where group organizers held a ceremony as riders continued to speed past along nearby Constitution Avenue.
Addressing the crowd gathered at the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial just beyond the sun-drenched reflecting pool, Muller said he urged the president to help advance legislation that will bolster the Rolling Thunder effort.
“And I just want to say, ‘Thank you very much,’ because you are America, you are the true patriots of this country, you come here year after year, put up with the rain the heat,” he told the crowd. “And you stuck by [the group’s mission], and we’re getting something done.”
Afterward, veterans activist and actor John Amos, star of television series “Men in Trees” and former co-star of the program “Good Times,” spoke to the audience.
“I’m here for the same reason you are all here,” said Amos, a former member of the New Jersey National Guard and an honorary Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard. “I’m here for my brothers who still wear the uniform. I’m here for my sisters. I’m here for my surrogate moms who lost their sons.
“I’m here to be one of many voices that speak up for all those who will not come home,” he continued. “And I’m here to keep the spirit alive that Rolling Thunder has infused in me, and in all of us who believe in what Rolling Thunder is doing.”
Meanwhile, servicemembers past and present, plus family members and other spectators cheered riders on as the convoy roared from the Pentagon parking lot to the National Mall here ahead of tomorrow’s Memorial Day observance.
Former Army Spc. James Yorke, a veteran of the Vietnam War, said he rode here from Richmond, Va., to participate in his fourth Rolling Thunder ride as a way to connect troops with the civilians they serve.
“Americans should think about the people who gave it all,” Yorke said, referring to those fallen military members who he said should be remembered over Memorial Day. “They were asked to do a job just so we could live in this country — that’s all they were asked to do.”
Also on hand for the holiday were brothers Gary and Jeffrey Elker, who rode their hogs more than 200 miles here from Middlesex, N.J. Gary is a retired Marine corporal who enlisted after the Vietnam War. Jeffrey didn’t wear the uniform, but he said he has buddies whose names are listed on the memorial wall among the more than 58,000 killed in Vietnam.
“It’s a weekend away to honor our fallen veterans,” said Jeffrey Elker when asked to describe the meaning Rolling Thunder holds for him.
Gary Elder, on his 17th ride today, said he also makes the annual trek to show support for military veterans. He added that there’s a common thread between past and present servicemembers.
“They’re willing to sacrifice for everybody else,” he said. “They believe in honor, integrity, and what’s going on in this country, and they’re willing to fight for it; I was.”
George Leiter, a former Marine sergeant who served from 1972-76, motored from Manchester, Pa., for his fourth ride. Over this Memorial Day weekend, as both of his sons wear the Army uniform, Leiter said he hopes his fellow citizens remember the people who answered the nation’s call.
“It’s important for Americans to consider all the veterans, whichever war they were in, whether they were in a combat zone or not,” he said. “I think they’ve just got to think of their freedoms, and what they have, and how important it is to have a strong military, and to support your military.”
Somebody should have got the President a trike to ride.
Rolling Thunder is awesome, what a wonderful group of patriots.
bttt
It is just a shame that seven years of actual action has not been able to match the rhetoric and imagery.
Palestinians, North Korea, Venezuela, Myanmar, Communist China......
“We only walked Independance from 20th to 17...and saw only a small part of the total.”
I drove down 23rd to the Lincoln Memorial, approaching the Memorial circle, the grass fields on each side, about a square block each, were covered with motorcycles as in the photo a few comments back. Very well behaved, not blocking traffic at all.
Was Jon Carry there with his “bike” and his lycra bike outfit? I think he’d fit right in...... /s
A chopper among choppers.....
Marine One, meet the choppers of Rolling Thunder!
I’m honored to know quite a few members of Rolling Thunder. When one of my husband’s cousins was killed in combat in Iraq, the moonbats were being bussed in - Rolling Thunder AND the local and state police kept the hundreds of friends and relatives and the moonbats apart. God bless our country, President Bush, our troops and the groups like Rolling Thunder who support them.
Fox: 350,000.
CNN, PMSNBC, NY Times etc: hundreds.
park?
Think of the domino effect if someone knocks one of them over...
frightening! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.