Rolling Thunder Memorial Ride
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}May 30: One man adorned the fuel tank on his motorcycle with old Vietnam –era dog tags. (Kelly Vlahos)
May 30: Harry McFarland, a Vietnam veteran from Pennsylvania who served in Iraq as a security advisor, has two sons in the service. This is his bike, and how he is remembering the fallen in U.S. wars abroad. Both his sons came home safely after tours in Iraq; they will be going to back overseas in the winter 2011. (Kelly Vlahos)
May 30: Rolling Thunder parks itself within the massive parking lots of the Pentagon. With temperatures reaching 90 degrees on the blacktop, bikers soon began seeking respite in the few shady areas. Tents were set up with food, free water was passed around. Large motorcycle clubs like the Nam Knights and Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club gathered in huge clusters, boasting members from as far flung as California and Texas through to New England. Many were represented by successive generations of vets, including recent Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and of course family and friends. (Kelly Vlahos)
May 30: Biker passes Arlington Cemetery. (Kelly Vlahos)
May 30: The motorcycle’s owner paid tribute to different battles fought by the Marine Corps in Iraq. (Kelly Vlahos)
May 30: Rolling Thunder bikers begin staging near the Patriot Harley Davidson in Fairfax, Va. on not far from the nation’s capital. Beforehand there was a short parade, speakers representing the local American Legion, and other veterans groups. (Kelly Vlahos)