It seemed as if the gas prices kept a few folks away from the rally this year. I haven't heard any numbers but the feel was just different. My buddy (a vet) said there seemed to be a lack of respect to those who have served and who are serving. Maybe it's our society changing. He commented that every year there are fewer Viet Nam vets and he's right. The candlelight service Friday night was moving with both Amazing Grace played by bagpipe and Taps by coronet. During the ride Sunday, people were crossing the road during the ride, effectively halting the ride midway. That used to never happen. The parking lots at the Pentagon didn't seem to be as full either.

We rode in on Ft. Washington HD's "Escorted" ride that broke up, got lost and ended up by the WHite House but that's another story. ANybody else feel the rally might be slipping away? or is it just me?

Anyway for all who serve, who have served or lost someone who served, thank you and them for your sacrifice as well as theirs. You make our world safe and allow us our freedoms.

Thanks vets

Bubba

 

Agreed, even saw a group of about 7 bikes slide in off a side street just past the bridge in the middle of everything.

 

+1
"Anyway for all who serve, who have served or lost someone who served, thank you and them for your sacrifice as well as theirs. You make our world safe and allow us our freedoms."

It would be an honer to pay my respect to the heroes that served forour freedoms.

I just cantman up and fry my bike sitting in traffic.

 

Parking around the city was terrible. The empty lot where I parked last year was blocked off by police. Parked out on the street by the Washington Monument, in the passenger drop-off area. Had to stand by the bike for a while so it wouldn't be towed away. Finally, the street was closed and I could walk away from the bike to go to the Wall for a visit with my cuz.
Was talking with 2 young ladies who were in front of me. They asked "where is the tomb of the unknown solider located?" Politely told "Arlington Cemetary". "Oh yeah, guess that sounds right" was their answer. "How many names are on the Wall?" "Well over 58,000". "Wow, that's a lot". Yeah, no kidding. The wind was whistling thru their heads.

 

I rode in last years "thunder"..which was a BIG number (20th anniv).
Maybe others stayed home because they made that ride?
About "fewer "Nam Vets" making the run........
As for me, I am 50 years old. I was too young to serve in Viet Nam. !968 was a
major year in Viet Nam. I was 11 years old. If a soldier in Nam in 1968 was 22,
he would be over 61 years old now. He may not even ride a bike. That is not the
point of Rolling Thunder. There are thousands that can not ride. I rode for them.
If two people ride in memory ofAmericans that were prisoner of war, killed in
action, or missing.....then I would call it "Rolling Thunder".

Chuck
I would say the ride was

 

Chuck I agree. My comment about the diminishing number of Viet Nam vets was not clear. I didn't mean to imply that fewer were riding but that as our generation ages, there are going to be fewerNam vets as the years pass. There simply will not be numbers added as we are not there anymore. I agree with your reason for riding. I wasn't in service, but support those who were and are. I never fail to shake the hand of a curent service member I see and say thanks. Agreed, if only you and I ride, and we ride for them and to bring attention to them, it will be well worth the effort to get there. I just felt a difference this year, a lack of respect for the vets and definately a lack of respect from the cops for those who attended. WE almost got ticketed for parking along Constitution on the grass and for parking across from WW II memorial on the grass. both areas that were open for parking last year.

The ride ended this year on the street behind the Holocaust museum, not at the wall as previously has been done. AS a matter of fact, the roads were blocked off so you could not get back to the wall. I don't do Myrtle Beach or Laconia but I do ride ROlling Thunder. Maybe we'll see you there next year. WOuld be my honor to shake your hand

Bubba

 

Sunday I rode to the National Cemetary in Schuylerville NY to pay my respects. As I walked around the grounds I was shocked by the number of Viet Nam vets that have died already.

 

I think parking was great. I rode in the parade left out from old glory harley. Yea we park with the other 400,000 motorcycles. If you didn't ride did anybody tell the city was going to be shut down for hours because of the parade. If you are just going to watch take the train in because park limited. Yes some people don't need to ride in a parade. They can't keep up with the group and get lost. And some people exit at there own location. That's life. I was told about dealership that drop people at the wall early and parking was not permit at that time. They didn't do the parade ride there andare the watching crowd.