Tomorrow will be the last time Washington D.C. will hear the rumble of thousands of motorcycles, as this is the last year for the Rolling Thunder D.C. ride. It is the end of an era that brought attention to so many of our Veterans left behind, particularly our Vietnam Veterans.

“Every Memorial Day, hundreds of thousands of motorcycles rumble through Washington, D.C., to honor veterans and prisoners of war. They call themselves Rolling Thunder, and this Sunday will be their 32nd ride. It will also be their last.

“We thought about it and thought about it. It’s a shame that we’re stopping it. I’m sad in a way, but in another way I’m glad,” said Sgt. Artie Muller, who served in the 4th U.S. Infantry Division in Vietnam. Muller co-founded Rolling Thunder Inc., the nonprofit that organizes the ride, in 1987, and currently serves as its executive director.

Rolling Thunder attracts a patriotic, leather-loving crowd to Washington. Major highways like the George Washington Parkway and I-66 will fill up with motorcycles, many with American flags waving behind them. The ride routinely attracts more than 500,000 bikers, many of whom ride to Washington with their local Rolling Thunder chapters from all over the country.”

Regional chapters are being urged to hold Rolling Thunder rides, as it is believed that it will help raise greater awareness across the country.

One reason this will be the last ride is that the costs have gotten too prohibitive. Permits cost well over $200,000. The combination of fees and issues with the Pentagon, D.C. and Park Police escalated leading the board to make the tough decision that 2019 would be the last year for the national ride in D.C.

Photo Credit: Mikaela Lefrak / WAMU, cropped and modified

This ride has meant so much to a great many people over the last 32 years.

The mission statement says it all. 

“Rolling Thunder Washington, DC, Inc’s mission is to educate, facilitate, and never forget by means of a demonstration for service members that were abandoned after the Vietnam War. The Rolling Thunder First Amendment Demonstration Run has also evolved into a display of patriotism and respect for all who defend our country”

And believe me, it is quite the display.

https://twitter.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1000780107152285696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1000780107152285696&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2018%2F12%2F14%2F676718151%2Fafter-decades-rolling-thunder-to-make-its-last-big-ride-through-washington-d-c

https://twitter.com/fox5dc/status/1132043599640760320

The Rolling Thunder Ride is and always will be a Ride for Freedom and most especially a Ride for Remembrance. Washington D.C. will be a lot quieter, too quiet in my opinion, in 2020.

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UPDATE 5/26/19: A reprieve for The Rolling Thunder Ride? We hope so!

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Feature Photo Credit: Rolling Thunder DC Facebook page, cropped and modified

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