Motorcycles rumble through Washington in honor of missing veterans

Record ID: 1119003

  • Title: Motorcycles rumble through Washington in honor of missing veterans
  • Date: 27th May 2018
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 27, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE BIKERS DRIVING ALONG "MEMORIAL BRIDGE" WITH LARGE U.S. FLAGS PEOPLE AT THE EDGE OF THE BRIDGE WATCHING THE BIKERS DRIVE PAST UNIFORMED MAN SALUTING THE BIKERS WIDE OF THE BRIDGE AS PEOPLE WATCH THE EARLIER POLICE ESCORT DRIVING OVER THE BRIDGE WIDE OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE SCENE WIDE OF PEOPLE GATHERED W
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2018 22:45
  • Keywords: Rolling Thunder Memorial Day missing war veterans MIA missing in action military Harley-Davidson motorcycles National Mall
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0018HN9B9J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The rumble of motorcycle engines filled the air in Washington on Sunday (May 27) as thousands of bikers paraded around the National Mall for the 31st annual Rolling Thunder rally to raise awareness of U.S. military personnel missing in action.
    Participants, many of them U.S. war veterans astride the loud, muscular Harley-Davidson machines typical of such events, rode into Washington led by a police escort over the Memorial Bridge, where cheering spectators waved Americans flags in support.
    The Rolling Thunder "Ride for Freedom" began in 1987 as a protest demanding a full accounting for American troops listed as missing in action, some who were believed at the time to still be held as prisoners following the Vietnam War.
    The annual Memorial Day event has evolved to encompass efforts to honor and raise awareness about the fate of all U.S. service members who were lost or otherwise "abandoned" following any of America's military conflicts.
    According to U.S. Defense Department figures, nearly 83,000 American military personnel remain unaccounted for, the overwhelming majority, 73,000-plus, from World War Two. The tally also includes more than 7,700 from the Korean War and over 1,600 from the Vietnam War.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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