| ABOUT ROLLING THUNDER® OHIO CHAPTER 2 |
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About Ohio Chapter 2
Rolling Thunder® Ohio Chapter 2 is a
Non-Profit, ALL
volunteer, POW / MIA
(Prisoner of War / Missing In Action)
AWARENESS
organization made
up of United States citizens who are dedicated and committed to helping
disabled, hospitalized and homeless veterans from all
wars. We are people from all walks of life. Our members are
professionals, blue collar workers, students, veterans, non-veterans,
motorcyclist, non-motorcyclist coming together to work on common veteran
issues. Ohio Chapter 2 members believe strongly in our mission of
supporting our veterans in every way that we can. We strongly
believe that there are still too many POW/MIAs unaccounted for from all
wars and we believe strongly in supporting our National organization,
Rolling Thunder®, Inc., toward ensuring that all of our missing loved
ones are accounted for.
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We are not a "motorcycle club" or "motorcycle organization" even though many of our members actively ride motorcycles. Motorcycles have, however, become synonymous with the Rolling Thunder® name; a misconception that distorts the true objective and purposes of Rolling Thunder® and has, at times, overshadowed the many accomplishments and contributions to our veterans and our communities. For those who know and support Rolling Thunder®, they are keenly aware that our support for the POW/MIA issue does not begin and end each year with the Memorial Day weekend. Rolling Thunder® members are active year round promoting legislation to increase veteran's benefits and resolve the POW/MIA issue from all wars. Our members generously give time, food, and clothing to veterans and their communities throughout the year. While many of our members are veterans, with and without motorcycles, membership also consists of non-veteran supporters of all ages, generations, and backgrounds. Ohio Chapter 2 is an association of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Members, nationwide, donate their time because of their deep belief in the POW/MIA issues that we are working on. Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a non-profit organization, which operates under the guidelines of the Federal Government for a non-profit organization as defined by section 501C(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is not connected with or an affiliate of any other organization and we do not raise funds for profit. For more information on our National Organization, please click here http://www.rollingthunder1.com. Click here to see a picture of Artie Muller, the Founder of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Click here for a little history lesson on "The Rolling Thunder Story." We are a God loving, God fearing, veteran dedicated, volunteer organization.
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| we meet at the krumroy road VFW |
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Rolling Thunder® Ohio Chapter 2 meets at the
Firestone Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3383, 690 W. Waterloo
Road, Akron, Ohio 44314.
Please Click here for our "Find Ohio
Chapter 2" Page.
Please Click here to see our Calendar of Activities. |
| JOIN US and HAVE SOME FUN WITH OUR VETS |
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Come and join us. You'll love and enjoy helping our disabled, hospitalized and homeless veterans.
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| BROCHURE for OHIO CHAPTER 2 |
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Our Ohio Chapter
2 Brochure is written in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). In order
to view and/or print the Brochure, you must first have the Adobe Reader
installed within your computer. |
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| PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH HOSTS ARTIE MULLER |
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| ARTIE MULLER MEETS OHIO CHAPTER 2 MEMBERS |
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Pictured from left to right: Danny "Web Master" Griffin, The Nancy Sinatra, The Artie Muller, and Bill "Artie Jr." Orem, former Vice President of Ohio Chapter 2. You can see Artie's Web site at www.rollingthunder1.com and you can see Nancy's Web site at www.nancysinatra.com. |
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National Office Phone: 908-369-5439 / Fax: 908-369-2072 National Office E-Mail: info@rollingthunder1.com Web Address: http://www.rollingthunder1.com |
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THE ROLLING THUNDER® STORY In the fall of 1987, in a little diner, in Somerville, New Jersey, two Vietnam veterans met to discuss their personal concerns about the prisoners of war (POW) and military service personnel missing in action (MIA) from the Vietnam War. Having honorably served their country, and having taken an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies . . ." and to "bear true faith and allegiance to same," they were deeply troubled by the abhorrent neglect of attention given to those who did not make it out with their lives or their freedom. These two veterans discussed the more than 10,000 reported sightings of live Americans living in dismal captivity. Intelligence reports of these sightings were generally ignored by the government and mainstream press. These two veterans were Artie Muller and Ray Manzo.
THE FIRST ROLLING THUNDER® DEMONSTRATION Artie and Ray were ordinary men who understood that they had a right to have their voices heard and proceeded to lay down the plans for a gathering in Washington, DC during the 1988 Memorial Day weekend. John Holland, Walt Sides and Ted Sampley worked on getting the permits for the demonstration. They reached out to their families, fellow veterans and veteran's advocates to unify and form a march and demonstration in the nation's Capitol. Their arrival would be announced by the roar of their motorcycles, a sound not unlike the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed "Operation Rolling Thunder." Hence, they would call themselves "Rolling Thunder," at title that would endure time and be trademarked in 1990. Word spread quickly and by Memorial Day weekend in 1988, approximately 2,500 motorcycles from all over the country converged on Washington, D.C. to demand from our leaders a full accounting of all POW/MIAs. As they made their stand that day in front of the Capitol, Artie and Ray reflected thankfully for the people who came in support of the POWs and MIAs, and for the unity that was felt. This was Rolling Thunder's first demonstration. Only until ALL POW/MIAs ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, it will not be their last. On that day, the foundation was laid for the annual "Ride for Freedom" to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall (also referred to as the "Ride to The Wall").
ROLLING THUNDER® TODAY Please visit the National website at: www.rollingthunder1.com. The number of motorcycle participants/spectators in the Memorial Day weekend Ride for Freedom has grown from 2,500 to an estimated 850,000. Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 88 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder are veterans, and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for POWs and MIAs of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public our watchwords: "We Will Not Forget." No officers or members of Rolling Thunder receive compensation; we all donate our time.
SUPPORTING LOCAL VETERANS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT In 2007, Rolling Thunder Charities,® Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization which enables individuals and corporations to receive a tax deduction for funds donated to Rolling Thunder Charities, Inc. Funds are used for veterans, active military and their families in need of help. No officers of Rolling Thunder Charities, Inc. receive compensation; we all donate our time. Rolling Thunder, Inc. spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in financial support, food, clothing and other essentials to veterans, homeless veterans and veterans' families in need, women's crisis centers and toys for children. In 2005, Rolling Thunder, Inc. united with the National Alliance of POW/MIA Families to petition the U.S. Government to use the designation "Prisoner of War/Missing in Action" (POW/MIA) - a designation recognized by the Geneva Conventions - not "Missing/Captured." This will ensure that prisoners' rights and protections remain consistent under the Geneva Conventions. Expenditures exceed over half a million dollars a year, nationwide, to educate the public and increase awareness about the POW/MIA issue and other injustices suffered by veterans. The organization regularly donates POW/MIA flags to local area schools, youth groups, non-profit organizations and special interest groups, and organizes flag-raising ceremonies. Veterans speak to youth groups about the honor of serving their country and educating them about the POW/MIA issue. Rolling Thunder, Inc. sponsors search missions into Southeast Asia for POW/MIAs, and the remains of those Killed In Action. Thousands of hours are logged in by Rolling Thunder, Inc. members at local VA hospitals nationwide. Members visit and provide moral support to nursing home veterans and patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Rolling Thunder, Inc. helped facilitate the publishing of a POW/MIA U.S. postage stamp through the U.S. Postal Service that displayed the dog tags with the declaration, "POW & MIA - NEVER FORGOTTEN." Rolling Thunder, Inc. National is on the Board of Directors of the Ride to the Wall Foundation, a veterans' fund established through the sales of the musical CD, "Ride to the Wall" produced for Rolling Thunder XIV by Paul Revere and the Raiders in cooperation with Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder, Inc. participated in the dedication of the World War II Memorial in 2004 and assisted with organizing the World War II parade that took place on that historic date.
LAWS PASSED THROUGH ROLLING THUNDER® ENDEAVORS Rolling Thunder, Inc. has advocated and co-authored legislation to improve the POW/MIA issue, veterans' benefits, concerns and interests. Please visit the National website: www.rollingthunder1.com then click on About Us for information on the following Legislation.
ROLLING THUNDER® KEY MESSAGE POINTS
WE NEVER FORGET
by John Worsham
The Sound of thunder, as they
start on their run;
Our Brothers and Sisters,
come together each year;
You'll hear their words,
that come from their hearts;
They speak of the ones still
left behind;
Others may speak of what
happened to them;
Many say THANKS and go on
their way;
But with Rolling Thunder®,
a tear in their eye;
They hug and they cry, as
their engines do roar;
But each year they'll
return, and will never quit;
So remember this sound, it's
like thunder my friend;
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| VOLUNTEER'S PRAYER |
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by Chaplain John Klembara I thank thee Lord as a volunteer
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Paul Wolfowitz “The brave men and women who serve today — whether in Afghanistan — northern Iraq -- and in other theaters of the war on terrorism — can do so with the full confidence that if they are captured, become missing or fall in battle, this nation will spare no effort to bring them home. That is our solemn pledge. However long it takes, whatever it takes, whatever the cost.”
In a ceremony held at the Pentagon on September 14th, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz stated, "…..we are here - above all - to reaffirm our commitment to keep the pledge President Bush has made to achieve 'the fullest possible accounting of our prisoners of war and those missing in action. The brave men and women who serve today - whether in Afghanistan or in Iraq or in other theaters of the war on terrorism - can do so with the full confidence that if they are captured, become missing or fall in battle, this nation will spare no effort to bring them home. That, too, is our solemn pledge.." Paul Wolfowitz "To paraphrase the words of an English poet, wherever American heroes have fallen, there is some corner of a foreign field that is forever America. But, whenever possible, we want to bring them home to rest in the country they loved and served so well. So we must not, we will not, cease our efforts until we can return to America's welcoming arms and yearning hearts those heroes who have been missing far too long."
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