Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/693447
35 JULY 2016 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Don Kline ONTARIO, CALIF., MAY 18— The annual Run for the Wall, the cross-country trip to Washington D.C. that honors veterans, starts off in Parking Lot D of the Ontario airport. Last year they were build- ing an underpass for the train on Vineyard Avenue and we ended hav- ing to detour through a gas station. Fortunately, this year all the construc- tion was complete and a nice paved parking lot awaited all the riders and those just coming to see them off. Those taking part get divided up into their respective groups called Platoons to follow one of three routes. Those three routes are the Mid Route, Central Route and Southern Route. All three routes take 10 days to com- plete. The daily mileages are low and there are stops along the way like fairgrounds, motorcycle dealerships, memorials and the like. Riders arrive early as the fi rst route is scheduled to leave at 6:45 a.m. To help kick off the ride three organizations step up to provide com- fort items and food for the riders. ABATE Local 19 provided coffee and doughnuts. I was told by Diane Davis that 30 dozen donuts and 35 gallons of coffee were served and that they have been doing this event for 15 years. Aimee and Renzy from Pomona Valley Harley-Davidson in nearby Montclair had their table fi lled with personal items for the riders such as tissues, crackers, packets of pain reliever, lip balm and other items. The Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) had a production line going to serve breakfast burritos. As you got in line you got a plate, a tortilla, eggs, and if you wanted, sausage and cheese. They had a long line for their burritos. The itinerary for the run states it is not easy and in fact during the briefi ng they are told they will get hot weather, cold weather, rough roads and even hail. I didn't see that deterring anyone and from some of the patches on many riders I see they have done this run several times. The mood was generally a happy one with a few serious moments. I heard a lot of laughing and kidding going on among those were taking part in the mission as I walked around the crowd and the motorcycles. I also saw a few somber faces as they were thinking and refl ecting. The mission started off with with the posting of the colors by the Honor Guard from the American Legion Post 835 of Rancho Cucamonga. There See "Run For The Wall," page 40, column 1 Marina and there they have a great snack shack with a shaded patio and even air conditioning inside. Every time I'm in the parking lot at noon it takes my breath away when hundreds of thousands of bikes fi re up their motors and inside the natural bowl of the Pentagon parking lot the rumble of bikes becomes thunder that you can feel in your bones. The ride begins in the midst of a sea of bikes, riders, spectators and countless cameras, with passengers on the back of bikes fi lming, and GoPro cameras mounted on fairings, crash bars and helmets. Spectators and news crews cheer riders on across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, around the Lincoln Memorial, at the corner on Constitution where Sgt. Chambers stands in vigilant salute, and up Constitution to the Capitol. At times the ride is so festive it is hard to remember that it is a ride to protest, but the purpose is clear as the bikes turn from Constitution onto First Street and roll past Capitol Hill. Throttles open and roar as the riders give their protest. In basic training we were all promised we would never be left behind, and that our country would support us and never forget us. So one Sunday each year, for several hours, D.C., our seat of government, hears our protest and displeasure that our government has failed to follow through on its promise to our veter- ans. That's a promise that for 29 years now, current and former service per- sonnel as well as citizens have been reminding our government they still owe— this unfulfi lled debt to this nation's veterans. 4 RUN FOR THE WALL XXVIII A mission of honor Riding for those who can't Lead Riders head out The Saluting Marine, USMC veteran Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers, who each Sunday of Rolling Thunder since 2002, has been standing at attention and saluting to honor riders, veterans and the POW/MIA for who this ride is for. This year on Sunday morning before the ride he got married and his lovely bride Lorraine Heist joined him for Rolling Thunder. For as long as I can remember this Tiger cage is the heart and soul of Rolling Thunder. Used by the NVA and VC these bamboo cages were too small to either lay down or stand up in. Always exposed to the elements of heat, rain, insect and more American POW were kept in cages like this for days, weeks, and months while they were tortured or transported north. Photo by Megan Dwyier