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PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH GREETS MEMBERS OF ROLLING THUNDER®, INC.  In this picture, Mr. Artie Muller, Rolling Thunder®, Inc.'s founder, is to the right of President George W. Bush's picture.
 

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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.

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.

• Establishing a Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs (House Res. 111)

• Encourage the designation of "Hire a Veteran Week" (H. Con. Res. 125)

• Respect for Fallen Heroes Act of 2006 (H.R. 5037)

• Veteran's Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 (S. 1235).

• Veterans Benefits, Health Care and Information Technology Act of 2006 (S. 3421 - Public Law 109-461)

• Veteran-Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2005 (H.R. 3082)

• Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002 (S. 1339)

• The POW/MIA Memorial Flag Act of 2001 (S. 1226)

• Displaying the POW/MIA Flag over Federal Buildings and Military Facilities

• Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000

• Missing Service Personnel Act of 1997

ROLLING THUNDER® KEY MESSAGE POINTS

• Return of POWs - We continue to introduce and support legislation to protect and demand accountability for all live or potentially live POWs from Iraq and Afghanistan, along with previous and future wars.  Our most recent POW/MIAs are: Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, captured Jan. 17, 1991; Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, captured April 9, 2004 and Spc. Qusai Al-Taayie, captured October 23, 2006.
   

• VA Benefits - We continue to identify and support legislation that improves healthcare and retirement benefits for active military, as well as reservists, who now serve in ways not originally intended.  This new generation of returning veterans portrays physical and mental symptoms unique to this conflict with over 22,000 wrongly discharged under the heading "Immature Personality Disorder."  Officers in charge of the Walter Reed Hospital or any Department of Defense Hospital that have not provided adequate housing and safe conditions to our wounded troops should face disciplinary action up to and including loss of rank.
   

• Classification of "POW / MIA" Status - We continue to pressure the U.S. Congress to restore the "POW/MIA" designation and cease using the "Missing/Captured" classification, which does not ensure that captured soldiers are given full protection under the Geneva Convention.
   

• Use of Legislation to Obtain Information About Live POWs - We continue to press for the United States to use and communicate to Middle East countries and their citizens the existence of The Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002.  This Act provides refugee status in the United States to any Middle Eastern aliens and their immediate family who provide information leading to the rescue of a live POW.
   

WE NEVER FORGET

by John Worsham
Written for Rolling Thunder® Inc. on December 25, 2006

The Sound of thunder, as they start on their run;
This run is for business, and never for fun.

Our Brothers and Sisters, come together each year;
They speak of their past, if you listen you'll hear.

You'll hear their words, that come from their hearts;
What it took to heal, and make a new start.

They speak of the ones still left behind;
And their return home, that wasn't so kind.

Others may speak of what happened to them;
And of the Brothers and Sisters, this nation did send.

Many say THANKS and go on their way;
They awake in the morning, just another day.

But with Rolling Thunder®, a tear in their eye;
They awake each morning and the Vets say good-bye.

They hug and they cry, as their engines do roar;
As they travel the road, to go home once more.

But each year they'll return, and will never quit;
By the sound of this thunder, you'll never forget.

So remember this sound, it's like thunder my friend;
The road of their engines that will never end.