Rolling Thunder

[graybeard]

I'm leaving Sunday morning the 20th to ride to D.C. for Rolling Thunder. I'll be riding with the local NorthWest Chapter of the American Legion Riders. We are going to meet up with the run to the wall group in Wenstville MO. If anyone is going on the central route or is going to be in D.C. would love to shoot the shit about line work.

[LostArt]

Sounds like fun greybeard! Is that a yearly deal? How long are you folks gone?

[graybeard]

Its a yearly event and we'll be 3 days in D.C. and the rest on the road. This will be the first and proubly only trip for me. You know one of those things you kind of feel compelled to do. On the trip out there are alot of activities on the way out. Parades and stops at local legions,vfw,dav vets hospitals. I got stuff for dry eyes but can't find anything to stop watered up ones.

[LostArt]

Originally Posted by graybeard

Its a yearly event and we'll be 3 days in D.C. and the rest on the road. This will be the first and proubly only trip for me. You know one of those things you kind of feel compelled to do. On the trip out there are alot of activities on the way out. Parades and stops at local legions,vfw,dav vets hospitals. I got stuff for dry eyes but can't find anything to stop watered up ones.

The Wall is the most emotional thing I have ever seen or have seen in my life that held so much.....inner emotions...feelings... It's THAT breath taking, sad, and a feeling of loss/grief to see those many names....that well, I can't even imagine that even the most hardened heart not feel something.

[loodvig]

Originally Posted by LostArt

The Wall is the most emotional thing I have ever seen or have seen in my life that held so much.....inner emotions...feelings... It's THAT breath taking, sad, and a feeling of loss/grief to see those many names....that well, I can't even imagine that even the most hardened heart not feel something.

I agree 100%. I went there not knowing what to expect. To see all those names! I even found the name of a man I went through basic training with. I always wondered whatever became of him. Now I know! Just to see what people leave at the base of the wall is something. M&M's, money, pictures, keys to a Corvette, etc. Another good thing to see is the Arlington National cemetary. Watch the changing of the guard. JFK's grave, etc. Very moving!

[LostArt]

Originally Posted by loodvig

I agree 100%. I went there not knowing what to expect. To see all those names! I even found the name of a man I went through basic training with. I always wondered whatever became of him. Now I know! Just to see what people leave at the base of the wall is something. M&M's, money, pictures, keys to a Corvette, etc. Another good thing to see is the Arlington National cemetary. Watch the changing of the guard. JFK's grave, etc. Very moving!

Oh yes, the changing of the guard......and Arlington. Just so much history in DC. It's really worth the trip. Now, on a motorcycle..........I'm not so sure! Hey, it was an experience going with a bunch of 4th and 5th graders! But, it keeps ya young.

Did I tell ya that the girl and her Marine might either be located in Ohio, Tennessee or VA? I'm hoping the latter two, that way I'm going to make the Boss go and hopefully we can swing by DC.

Talking about the Wall, the only name we looked for and I remember was of a man that grew up in our hometown and was MIA. I remember my friends and I wearing those silver braclets with his name on it. I even remembered his name--Thomas Hart. You have to remember that I wasn't but around 12 or 13 yrs old at the time, but I remember the significance in wearing it. Many years later, I found out that it was a classmate of the Boss's---Hart was his uncle. We still hit the river with them.

If you are a true American, and you never go anywhere else in these united states, Washington D. C. is a MUST trip!!

[Moe]

You can go to a web-site (not sure what it is) and find whatever happened to him. Just type in POW-Mia Viet Nam. I was on it a long time ago. I'll do some searching.

[Moe]

I found this:
Thomas Trammell Hart III USAF
Casualty in Laos 12-21-72
Returned to the US on 12-21-85
Remains were Identified on 7-1-85
Home of record; Orlando Fla.

Hope this helps.

[LostArt]

Originally Posted by Moe

I found this:
Thomas Trammell Hart III USAF
Casualty in Laos 12-21-72
Returned to the US on 12-21-85
Remains were Identified on 7-1-85
Home of record; Orlando Fla.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Moe! Thomas T. Hart, III. I thought it was something like that on our braclets.

Home of record.........ummm......Orlando. I think his family was from Live Oak, but evidently he wasn't at the time. There were some adults that went on this trip with me that were older and actually remembered him personally. As I said, I didn't know him....but he still did a great service to our country...just as so many have and continue to do.

I heard a story from an aunt the other day about an uncle of mine that was in service. He was on a plane and for some reason they were hit and the pilot was killed. My uncle took over and was talked down. She didn't remember all the details, but only what he said about it. My uncle was a quiet man and didn't talk about his time in the service. I wished I had talked to him more about it, but I just respected his privacy. However, there was one thing that we did talk about and it was about his western paperbacks. The ones we talked about the most was Louis L'amour. I read them all while he was serving abroad in the '60's and early '70's. My grandmother wrote him about how his niece was reading all his paperback westerns and was being very careful with them. She said that he liked that.

When he came home, my brothers received his Yamaha 80 motorcycle and I was given his electric typewriter. Heh. I still laugh about that, because I rode that motorcycle more than I used that typewriter!!

Another Memorial Weekend coming up and the older I get, the more choked up and teary-eyed I become. ULGH.

[Moe]

LA, remember to fly your flag half staff till noon on Memorial Day.Thanks.