It’s where you want to be (at least once in your life) to remember those who gave their lives in military service to this country. Thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycles were carrying now-aging Vietnam veterans and their wives or girlfriends to rendezvous with others from all over the country to commemorate their fallen brothers and sisters in battle.
The event was organized by Rolling Thunder which was incorporated in 1995 as a non-profit organization, with 88 chapters chartered throughout the United States. While most Rolling Thunder members are veterans and ride motorcycles, membership is open to all. The group’s mission is to be united in the cause to bring full accountability for all POWs (Prisoners of War) and MIAs (Missing in Action) of all wars, guided by the phrase, “We Will Not Forget.”
As we drove into Washington Sunday morning, masses of shining black Harley-Davidsons with motors roaring were ahead of us, behind us and beside us. A crowd on a pedestrian overpass above I-95 North waved American flags and cheered for the men and women on motorcycles. A man on a Harley beside us smiled up at the crowd and lifted his hand in a wave. Would you let go of your right hand for an instant for any reason while in control of a Harley-Davidson in three lanes of thundering I-95 traffic? This man was responding with gratitude to the affection and respect being shown, probably remembering that there had been no welcoming crowds for the young men returning from the murderous jungles of Vietnam. Those years stand out as some of the most shameful in American history, as we chose to cast blame on those young and more often than not, drafted soldiers, for the lost war and deaths of thousands followed by the troubled lives of men severely wounded both in mind and body.
Although in actions too little and far too late, we became a “kinder and gentler nation” and the Vietnam veterans came out from the shadows in their own unique ways, this day converging on the Pentagon exit in such numbers that traffic backed up on the Interstate. Why was this? Rolling Thunder members were gathering at the Pentagon for the Demonstration Ride across Memorial Bridge at noon in a show of support for the missing POWs and MIAs and their families.
Around noon, we had reached the heights of Arlington National Cemetery at Robert E. Lee’s former home where we joined others to watch the Rolling Thunder motorcycles directly below us cross over the Potomac into Washington for their Demonstration Ride.
Staying at the same hotel, were dozens of veterans dressed in their signature jeans and black T-shirts, and many were adorned with flag and Marine patches on black leather vests. Early Monday, we chatted with a friendly group from North Carolina, admiring their shiny motorcycles — like Harley-Davidson showroom models –causing us to wonder if the thousands of motorcycles in D.C. had been purchased just the day before. But Keith and Janet Jackson from Raleigh swore that their Harley was nine years old, kept brand- new looking by constant care and plenty of chrome polish.
Were they Rolling Thunder members? No, but they had come to show support for the members and their goals. Andy Beckham from Raleigh and his friend Tammy Clemons from Durham talked about the weekend events, touched most deeply by the visit to the Vietnam War Memorial Wall, and by the hushed and respectful crowds at the Arlington National Cemetery, where birds were the loudest creatures. Tammy’s motorcycle helmet bore some interesting statements: “Born Free Taxed to Death” and “The Price of Freedom is Written on the Wall.” Her feelings summed up with, “When One American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost.”
The group of about eight got ready to hit the road, doing some last minute planning for the five-hour trip home, and nervous about the forecast for rainstorms.
I’m amazed by the ready sacrifice of their time and comfort, and possibly even their safety, to be of service to fellow soldiers whom, few if any, knew personally. In hindsight, the unjust treatment by the American government and people led many to unhappy and wasted lives, but they are not allowing the story to end there. It is fitting to think of Vietnam vets when you hear the saying, “America is the land of the free because it’s the home of the brave.” At 3:00 pm every year on Memorial Day, a soldier plays Taps at Arlington National Cemetery. It will be an honor to pause a year from now at 3:00 pm and remember.
