Rolling Thunder, Run for the Wall Washington DC arrival - AWESOME !

KIC · May 24, 2015

I am working another 2 month TDY in Washington DC and last Thursday I was really bummed out that I was missing a PGR Mission that I have attended the last two years. The southern Run for the Wall always stops outside of Tucson for fuel and I have joined our PGR group for a flag line to welcome and send off the riders.

It then dawned on me.... they are coming here! I may not see them off, but I could see them arrive !! So taking a break from my work functions.. I first made a stop at Arlington to visit a young friend that 3 years ago gave his ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. Sgt. Brian L. Walker, US Army Military Police. He served with my daughter and became a close friend of our family including marrying a close friend of my daughter's, Ashley. This was my second visit ( http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?99977-Arlington-Overwhelming-and-impacting )

Anyway, There were several hundred bikes that arrived at Arlington National while I was there this morning.

I have to tell you, every time I step onto the grounds at Arlington, I get this weird goose bump chilled feeling that tells me what an awesome, yet sad place this is. As I walked the mile to and from Brian's resting place, I saw many young females just sitting in front of a white headstone. one after another. I didn't take any pictures out of respect for them and their private time, but you could sense the loss and sadness.

One of the sobering parts of every visit is when you see the new fresh ground and the temporary markers. This means that there is more families now living with the loss.

After leaving Arlington, I drove to DC. There the bikes were arriving, hundreds and hundreds of bikes.. the pictures do not do it justice. The term Rolling Thunder doesn't adequately describe the rumble that permeates the air and the ground.

[video=youtube;k1E326Tk8-g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1E326Tk8-g&feature=youtu.be

It was a pretty awesome experience.