ABOUT ROLLING THUNDER^®, INC.

Incorporated in 1995,Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 88 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad.  While many members of Rolling Thunder are veterans, and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for POWs and MIAs of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”

The ROLLING THUNDER STORY

In the fall of 1987, in a little diner, in Somerville, New Jersey, two Vietnam veterans met to discuss their personal concerns about the prisoners of war (POW) and missing in action (MIA) from the Vietnam War. Having honorably served their country, and having taken an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies..." and to "bear true faith and allegiance to same," they were deeply troubled by the abhorrent neglect of attention given to those who did not make it out with their lives or their freedom. These two veterans discussed the more than 10,000 reported sightings of live Americans living in dismal captivity. Intelligence reports of these sightings were generally ignored by the government and mainstream press. Artie Muller and Ray Manzo were these two veterans.

On March 2, 1965, thunderous waves of B52s began dropping bombs on the communist state of North Vietnam. 

The operation was aptly named ROLLING THUNDER.

The First Rolling Thunder Demonstration

Artie and Ray were ordinary men who understood that they had a right to have their voices heard and proceeded to lay down the plans for a gathering in Washington, D.C. during the 1988 Memorial Day weekend. They reached out to their families, fellow veterans and veteran's advocates to unify and form a march and demonstration in the nations Capital.  John Holland, Walt Sides and Ted Sampley were responsible for the permits for the first demonstration.  Their arrival would be announced by the roar of their motorcycles, a sound not unlike the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam dubbed Operation Rolling Thunder. Hence, they would call themselves "Rolling Thunder" a title that would endure time and be trademarked in 1990.  Word spread quickly and by Memorial Day weekend in 1988, approximately 2,500 motorcycles from all over the country converged on Washington, D.C. to demand from our leaders a full accounting of all POW/MIA's. As they made their stand that day in front of the Capitol, Artie and Ray reflected thankfully for the people who came in support of the POW's and MIA's, and for the unity that was felt. This was Rolling Thunder's first demonstration. Only until ALL POW/MIA's ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, it will not be their last. On that day, the foundation was laid for the annual "Ride for Freedom" to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall (also referred to as the "Ride to the Wall").  The number of participants/spectators in the Memorial Day weekend Ride for Freedom has grown from 2,500 to an estimated 900,000.

In 2002, the National Chapter of Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. donated over $50,000 in financial support, food, clothing and other essentials to sanctioned veterans' groups, veterans and veterans' families in need, homeless veteran programs, women's' crisis centers, and toys for children.

In 2002, Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. expended over $170,000 educating the public and increasing awareness about the POW/MIA issue and other injustices suffered by veterans from all wars, and to improve legislation that would rectify the POW/MIA situation and improve veterans' benefits from all wars.

The National Chapter of Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. sponsors search and retrieval missions into Southeast Asia for POW's, MIA's, and the remains of those killed in action.

Over 4,000 hours were logged in by members of the Rolling Thunder organization in the year 2002 at local VA hospitals around the country; members visited with and provided moral support to nursing home veterans, patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and homeless veterans.

Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. veterans regularly speak to youth and parents of their communities at local area schools, ROTC programs, and other community gatherings about the honor of serving their country and educating them about the POW/MIA issue.

The organization regularly donates POW/MIA flags to local schools, various organizations and interests groups, and organizes flag raising ceremonies promoting public awareness about the POW/MIA issue.

Rolling Thunder greatly facilitated the publishing of a POW/MIA U.S. postage stamp through the U.S. Postal Service that displayed dog tags with the declaration, "POW & MIA - NEVER FORGOTTEN".

Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. is on the Board of Directors of the Ride to the Wall Foundation, a veterans' fund established through the sales of the musical C.D., "Ride to the Wall," produced for Rolling Thunder XIV by the legendary Paul Revere and the Raiders in cooperation with Rolling Thunder^®, Inc.  Proceeds of the sale of the CD are donated to the Homeless Veterans foundation established by Miss America 2000 Heather French-Henry (presently the Second Lady of Kentucky).

Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. - Is A Registered Trademark Name

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