In accordance with Arizona Revised Statute, March 29 is Vietnam Veterans’ day. Although it is not considered a legal holiday, we should reflect this Sunday on the sacrifices that the brave men and women of America made in an unpopular war.
We also take time to note the continuing effort of these heroes on behalf of POW/MIAs and other veterans in their Run For the Wall and Rolling Thunder events. Anyone who would like to support these events can go to the web site and make a donation or purchase their products.
Run for the Wall begins May 13 and one of the routes makes their first stop in Williams and Phoenix. They sell products on their run to help support their efforts. Anyone may purchase items or simply come by the American Legion hall and show their support.
WILLIAMS – While most Americans feel that Memorial Day is to mark the beginning of summer and barbeque season, there are those who actively participate in what Memorial Day was actually meant to be. The day is meant to honor the approximate 7% of those Americans who have actually served and are serving to keep this country free from tyranny.
In about a week, the motorcycle riders of Run for the Wall will arrive in Williams once again. The Run for the Wall mission actually consists of three routes with the Central route making its first stop in Williams at the Cordova Post American Legion Hall.
Run For The Wall (RFTW) was started in 1989 by Vietnam veterans James Gregory and Bill Evans. The mission is to promote healing among all veterans and their families and friends and to call for an accounting of all still listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA).
Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl of Idaho is still a prisoner of war in Afghanistan.
The ride consists mostly of Vietnam veterans, but younger veterans are invited and are starting to answer the call. Some riders are not veterans, but are friends, relatives and others who want to honor those who gave all.
The run begins on the 14th, this year, and the riders usually begin arriving between 4 and 5 pm. The American Legion Cordova Post #13 in Williams hosts a barbeque for the group between 7 and 8 pm. The riders then rest up for the continuation of their ride through New Mexico. The three routes converge in Washington, D.C. at the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall memorial for the Memorial weekend.
The group Rolling Thunder, founded about the same time, makes a Memorial Day run to Washington, D.C. as well. Their mission to bring attention the POW/MIAs is the same as Run for the Wall.
Their motto—We ride for those who can’t—indicates the fact that they ride in honor of those fallen heroes killed in action and those serving in the active duty military, as well as the POW/MIAs. Continue reading →
HAILEY, IDAHO—During the Run for the Wall motorcycle rally, the east coast group Rolling Thunder highlighted the plight of Sergeant Bowe Robert Bergdahl who was captured by insurgents in Afghanistan. This month, a local group in plan a Bring Bowie Back rally in his home State of Idaho.
Sergeant Bergdahl was taken captive on June 30, 2009 as a private and promoted in abstentia. The administration has made attempts to rescue him, but all have failed. He is currently the only known, living prisoner of war.
Stefanie O’Neill, one of the organizers of the event, said that the event started as a tree dedication in a local park, “… but as people heard about the event, it started growing at a rapid rate and has evolved into a full blown rally with both locals and supporters from across the County attending. This will be largest rally for Bowe every held. I am completely overwhelmed by the support pouring in from around the Country for this event.”
Hailey Chief of Police Jeff M. Gunter will escort the rally to the capitol city of Boise
This is the first year of the event, “…started as an effort to show the Bergdahl Family that their hometown and surrounding communities in the Wood River Valley have not forgotten Bowe,” Stefanie said.
Debbie O’Neill explained that 500 motorcycles are expected to meet in Jerome, Idaho at the Flying J. Hailey Police Chief Jeff Gunter will escort the rally participants 50 miles to Bellevue where they will meet with another motorcycle group from Boise. Chief Gunter will escort the entire group to the event in Boise scheduled for the 22nd of June.
While the event is centered in Idaho, any riders from any State are welcome to attend the event.
The event is supported by the POW Network, the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Group and smaller motorcycle and military groups from the Northwest. The Northeast, Pocatello and Boise Chapters of the POW/MIA organization from Idaho will be attending. In addition, the Elko Nevada POW/MIA Organization are supporting the event. More will probably be added by the date of the event.
If you wish to learn more about the event, you visit the web site for more information.
WBTW-TV: News, Weather, and Sports for Florence, SC By Leah Mishkin, May 13, 2013 MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) – The first of the two weekends for the 74th annual spring rally is in the books as thousands of bikers hit the Strand for a good time and for a good cause.
The Rolling Thunder set up a booth at the Harley-Davidson dealership hoping to raise money to continue their mission of finding and bringing home American prisoners of war.
“Since World War 2, there are over 84 thousand unaccounted for and our mission is to educate people at the same time we also lobby up with congress to put pressure on them to bring our Americans home,” said chairman of the Rolling Thunder Myrtle Beach chapter Bill DeVaughn.
And while this organization is not only for bikers, Rolling Thunder members said with bikers, many find great interest in finding prisoners of war since many are veterans.
