About Us
Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is NOT a motorcycle club or a veterans organization. We are a group of concerned citizens working to make people aware of the Prisoners Of War-Missing In Action (POW-MIA) issue.
The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize the POW-MIA issue, educate the public of the fact that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all past wars, help correct the past, and protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action.
We are committed to helping American veterans from all wars. Rolling Thunder®, Inc, Florida Chapter 7 is looking for members to join us.
Ride For Freedom XIX DC 2006 -- Press Release -- May 2006
Imagine one of your children away serving their country. Then one day you look out in the driveway and the moment that all parents fear arrives. Pulling into your driveway is a car with a government tag. Your worst fear is about to be realized. The representatives from the military arrive at your door. Instead of telling you your loved one has been killed in action, they inform you your loved one is missing ---unaccounted for while on a military mission. They inform you they are doing everything in their power to find out what happened to your loved one and will keep you informed. Many years go by. The story is always the same; we are doing all we can. The day finally arrives when you are told they have done all they can and regretfully they have changed your loved ones status from “missing” to “missing presumed dead”.
One can only imagine the emotions and feeling that go through the mind at a time like this. Presumed dead? What does that mean? Does that mean they may still be alive? Should we begin preparations for a memorial service? Will our loved one’s remains be returned home? What if we pronounce them dead and they return --- alive? Will they be forgotten?
These are just some of the feelings that over 93,297 families have had to endure since World War I. That is the number of American servicemen and women unaccounted for from all wars since then. Currently there are 10,000 American servicemen and women still unaccounted for from the Korean War until present. No one but the families of those loved ones can truly understand the depth of their emotions and feelings.
One group of Americans that do understand is the men and women who have served their country. These men and women have all lived and fought by the creed “no one left behind”.
In 1987, in an effort to draw attention to the plight of their comrades still unaccounted for from Southeast Asia, two former Vietnam veterans, Ray Manzo and Artie Muller decided to take matters into their own hands. A rally was planned for Washington, D.C. for Memorial Day 1988. Over 2500 people converged on Washington, D.C. that day, many of them riding motorcycles. The sound of so many bikes in one place at one time reminded many of the sounds of the 1965 bombing campaign of North Vietnam dubbed “Operation Rolling Thunder”. Thus the name “Rolling Thunder” was adopted and later trademarked in 1990.
Since that day many demonstrations have been held by this group on Memorial day weekend in Washington, DC. The number of people demonstrating has risen to the hundreds of thousands. We have had and continue to have members of congress, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Miss America and many others participate in this demonstration over the years.
My name is Ray Thompson. I am the President of Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 7 located in Citrus County, Florida.
This year marks the 19th year for our demonstration in Washington, DC. It is the longest running and largest by far of any demonstration. It also has the blessing of many members of congress, the administration and the armed forces. We have had the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Head of the VA, and members of Congress attend and ride at the front with us. We have also been addressed by the President of the United States, George Bush.
Our message this year is:
▪ We are not motorcycle club. We are an advocacy group for current and future veterans and for POW's and MIA's. This is not a bike rally; it is an organized demonstration in support of the POW/MIA awareness cause and veterans benefits.
▪ The Dept .of Defense and Congress continually lay their budget woes on the backs of our service men and women. Returning veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan and previous wars and conflicts are not receiving the benefits they were promised. As a result growing numbers are unemployed, have inadequate healthcare, are on food stamps or worse - homeless. In addition, healthcare premiums paid by military retirees will soon be increasing, which will add to the problem.
▪ We are working to introduce a bill in Congress, which will ensure that captured soldiers are given the full protection under the Geneva Convention by being classified as POW/MIA instead of "Missing/Captured".
▪ While we acknowledge the importance of the government identifying the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and providing answers to the victims families. Our military families also need answers from he government concerning what happened to their missing loved ones who risked their lives for our country.
Due to the continued efforts of JPAC, and other groups accounting for our soldiers as well as the National Alliance of Families, VFW, Rolling Thunder, Vietnam Veteran's of America and other organizations leading this fight, we are making progress on recovering the remains of those missing. The budgets are tight and there are many within the government that does not share the view that we should continue this fight.
In the past few weeks there have been many demonstrations in this country by groups of people that claim they want to be Americans. These demonstrations have drawn coverage from across the nation and the world. These people claim they want to be American citizens and they support this country.
The hundreds of thousands of individuals demonstrating in our nations capitol on this Memorial Day, are Americans. Many have made huge sacrifices for this country. Many families there will have made the ultimate sacrifice of a loved one for this country.
I can assure you that the only flags flying on this day in Washington, DC will be the AMERICAN and the POW flags. No Mexican, Cuban, Haitian, Spanish or any other country.
These will be the true Americans that care about this country and the men and women who serve it and keep it free.
Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 7 will depart from the Beverly Hills VFW on Thurs. morning, May25th at 0800 for the trip to Washington, DC. Many of us will be riding bikes, some will be in cars, some in trucks for the 900 mile trip north. Another group of 6-10 will be leaving on Thurs. evening.
Anyone desiring to see us off and wish us well please feel free to do so. We will head out after a prayer at 0800 sharp, turn North on Lecanto Highway and drive through Beverly Hills on our journey North.
If you have any questions or I can be of further assistance please let me know. We all appreciate any and all the support we can get.
God Bless and protect our men and women in the armed forces and bring our POW/MIA's home.
Semper Fi
Ray Thompson
President, Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 7