Military Vets Motorcycle to Arlington Cemetery

[thedrifter]

Military Vets Motorcycle to Arlington Cemetery
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2003 ? Arlington National Cemetery is a quiet place where military veterans lie in peace among slim, white marble tombstones that in the springtime array like troops in formation across the rolling fields of green.

Today, however, the staccato thunder of legions of motorcycle exhausts echoed across these normally placid environs, as an army of leather- and denim-clad veterans rolled in on their Harleys, Hondas, Kawasakis and BMWs.

"Rolling Thunder" had indeed arrived at the cemetery, a stone's throw across the Potomac River from the nation's capital.

The non-profit group -- accompanied by thousands of other motorcyclists from across the country -- biked to Arlington to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Rolling Thunder member Bill Newby, 56, a disabled Navy Vietnam veteran from Knoxville, Tenn., noted that the organization was making its 16th annual trek to Washington.

He explained that Rolling Thunder uses motorcycles to publicize the prisoner of war/missing in action issue and to educate the public. He added that the group "is also committed to helping disabled veterans from all wars."

Newby considers the POW-MIA issue a personal one, noting, "I've got friends who've not only died, I've got friends who haven't been accounted for."

In fact, the organization's annual Run for the Wall, Newby pointed out, features thousands of motorcyclist-veterans from Rolling Thunder -- and other motorcycle clubs across the nation ? who motor to Washington regularly to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to take part in other activities to raise public consciousness about the POW-MIA issue.

Most biking veterans at Arlington ? including Newby -- were festooned with military awards earned in previous wars. Now graying and a step or two slower than in their prime, they remain fiercely patriotic ? and approving of the war against global terrorism.

Newby, for one, emphasized that "we ought to do it and get it over with ? and not pull back," regarding U.S. and coalition military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to defeat global terrorism.

To Gail Ferrell, a member of the Southern Cruisers motorcycle club out of Raleigh, N.C., this year's ride to Washington "symbolizes freedom and what we're fighting for -- and all the men and women that have died for our country."

America's service men and women "are doing a wonderful job" in the war on terror, she asserted, adding, "they're fighting for us and we should stand up for them and do whatever we can to help them."

Keith Parker, another Southern Cruisers member, from Willow Spring, N.C., said he was heartened by the successful rescue of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch and fellow soldiers formerly held as POWs during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Anytime we have any of our soldiers captured or taken into custody like that ? we need to go get them," Parker, another Navy Vietnam veteran, noted. The rescue of Lynch and comrades was "a heroic thing for Americans to do and it's heroic for (the former POWs) to survive it and come out."

And concerning the war against terrorism, Parker asserted, "Let's go get them ? everywhere."

However, "we've got a long ways to go," Parker acknowledged, noting there are "a lot of (people) in the world who'd like to destroy us -- for our freedoms."

Those responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Parker said, were wrong in thinking such an assault would sap Americans' resolve to confront terrorism.

"We're going to make sure they don't go it again," he concluded.

Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

Article ran : 05/26/2003
A worthy prayer on Memorial Day

Toward the end of the 20th century - perhaps lulled by a couple of relatively tranquil decades - the real meaning of Memorial Day appeared to lose some of its immediacy for all but veterans and their families.

It seemed possible, as the new century dawned, that America might never have to fight a war again. We had no enemies that we knew of - until Sept. 11, 2001.

Now, this Memorial Day, like last year's, has a special poignancy, a much deeper significance than simply a three-day weekend that kicks off summer.

The battles for Iraq and Afghanistan in our ongoing war on terrorism have harshly reminded us that our freedom comes at a price and that it is the men and women of our armed forces that are called upon to pay that price for all of us.

In our past, Americans had a certain emotional distance from war. News, good and bad, traveled slowly. But in Iraq, as blessedly quick as the fighting was, that was not the case. The immediacy of the print and TV reporting forcefully reminded us that war remains a harsh and brutal business.

Even in Iraq, where the outcome was never in doubt, war is no sure thing. Things go wrong; accidents happen; "friendly fire" is no less real for being a ghastly oxymoron. Still, our armed forces are a military to be proud of for their professionalism and humanity. It speaks highly of our military that throughout most of Iraq, when Saddam Hussein's thugs were absent, they were welcomed as liberators.

We want our men and women in uniform to come safely home, as many will today when the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit returns to Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. We want our service members here to participate in the parades, the barbecues, the trips to the beach. But today, we honor those who have made it through the scourge of war by paying tribute to those who did not. In every case these were men and women of courage and dignity whose potential to contribute to the world was sadly cut short. It is also a day for us to remember that long line of fallen countrymen stretching from the center of Baghdad to the road at Lexington and Concord.

Each person killed in the cause of liberty and the service of this nation leaves behind family, friends and loved ones whose lives will be forever affected by their sacrifice. It is, therefore, altogether fitting that today honors their sacrifice as well.

Each Memorial Day, the leaders of this nation ask Americans to pray for peace. Few prayers are more worthwhile.


Sempers,

Roger