About

About the Ride Home

The Ride Home began in 2002 as a retreat and rededication. Our founding members, from FL and GA Rolling Thunder Chapters, chose the National Historic Site at Andersonville, GA, home of the National Prisoner of War Museum.

We took up the challenge of a Presidential Proclamation, "I call upon the people of the United States to join me in honoring and remembering all former American prisoners of war and those missing in action who valiantly served our great country. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and private organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities."

In 2007, we were privileged to have more than 50 former Prisoners Of War join us in a two day celebration to honor these heroes.

Our goal for 2008 is to invite as our guests, approximately 150 former POWs and Next of Kin; to offer a recognition commensurate with their extraordinary courage and valor; to increase the number of participants paying tribute; and to increase public awareness and commitment that we will never forget.

About Rolling Thunder ®, Inc.

Rolling Thunder ®, Inc.ís major function is to publicize the POW-MIA issue: to educate the public that many American Prisoners Of War were left behind after all previous wars; to help correct the past; and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners Of War or Missing In Action. We are committed to helping American veterans from all wars.

Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder ®, Inc. is a class 501 C-4 non-profit organization with over 80 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. Members consist of both veterans and non-veterans. Although many of its members ride motorcycles, a person does not have to own or ride a motorcycle to be a member. Membership does require a commitment of time and a willingness to be an advocate for our troops, our veterans, and our Prisoners Of War and Missing In Action.

Rolling Thunder ®, Inc. may best be known for its annual Memorial Day Weekend demonstration "Ride For Freedom" to the Vietnam Veteranís Memorial Wall in Washington, DC ("Ride to the Wall"). Begun in 1988 with approximately 2,500 motorcycles from all over the country, it now numbers in the hundreds of thousands; not to mention the tens of thousands pedestrian onlookers and participants.

Rolling Thunder ®, Inc. serves the veteran community by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each year 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 addition, thousands of hours are logged in by members of the Rolling Thunder ®, Inc. organization at local VA hospitals around the country; members visit with and provide moral support to nursing home veterans, patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and homeless veterans.

For more information on Rolling Thunder ®, Inc., visit our National website:
http: //www.rollingthunder1.com