- Title: Rolling Thunder roars into DC to honor POWs and missing soldiers
- Date: 28th May 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 28, 2017) (REUTERS) POLICE ESCORT LEADING ROLLING THUNDER SPECTATORS WITH U.S. FLAGS, WAVING VARIOUS OF BIKERS ON MEMORIAL BRIDGE, HEADING TOWARDS LINCOLN MEMORIAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) ERNESTO MARTINEZ, VETERAN, SAYING: "I am just a veteran. I served in the United States Marine Corps and I am here to support all the brothers, because once a Marine, always a Marine." VARIOUS OF BIKERS ON MEMORIAL BRIDGE SPECTATOR WEARING A STARS AND STRIPES SWEATSHIRT WITH THE WORDS U.S.A BIKERS ON MEMORIAL BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JASON WHITE, VETERAN, SAYING: "It's sometimes hard to go to civilian life to where you don't always know you can count on the person next to you. You sometimes feel alone. These are a bunch of people who are a lot like us and who support people like us and it feels good. The greatest thing a person can ever do for a veteran is say thank you, and this is just one giant thank you." (SOUNDBITE) (English) WADE MORTON, VETERAN WHO SERVED TWO YEARS IN THE VETERAN WAR, SAYING: "People come up and speak to us. They tell us, 'thank you for your service', even veterans that have got three times as much service as I do, come up and say 'thank you for your service' and it's a good feeling." SPECTATOR CHEERING SHOT OF SPECTATORS' STARS AND STRIPES SOCKS SPECTATORS WEARING JACKETS WITH THE WORDS "COMBAT VETS ASSOCIATION" SPECTATOR WITH FLAG
- Embargoed: 11th June 2017 21:23
- Keywords: veterans parade Washington bikers Rolling Thunder Memorial Day
- 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: LVA0016IR5O3R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The sound of motorcycles filled a rainy Sunday (May 28) morning in Washington, D.C . as thousands of bikers participated in Rolling Thunder, the annual ride around the Washington Mall to raise awareness for prisoners of war and soldiers still missing in action.
Led by a police escort, bikers rolled into Washington D.C. via Memorial Bridge where they were greeted by cheering spectators, many waving Americans flags to show their support.
"The greatest thing a person can ever do for a veteran is say thank you, and this is just one giant thank you," said Jason White, a veteran who fought in the Gulf War.
The Rolling Thunder Run first began as a demonstration for service members who were "abandoned after the Vietnam War", the organization said on its website.
The event was appropriately named "Rolling Thunder" because of the sound the motorcycles make crossing the Memorial Bridge. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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