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The Ride Home
"The Ride Home" is held in Andersonville and Americus, Ga.,
in conjunction with National POW/MIA Recognition
Day, Friday, 19 September 2008.
Taking up the challenge of the 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 host more than 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.
The two-day program:
Friday, Sept. 19
9:30 A.M. - Honors Escort Procession to "Keeping The Promise" at the First
Baptist Church, Americus, GA
10:00 A.M. - "Keeping The Promise - We Will Not Forget" a tribute to those who
have paid the ultimate price for our freedom
1:00 P.M. - Open House at National POW Museum, Andersonville. GA
4:30 P.M. - POW Tribute dinner at the historic Windsor Hotel in Americus
7:00 P.M. - Candlelight service in remembrance of those Missing In Action,
still waiting to come home
Saturday, Sept. 20
9:00 A.M. - "The Ride Home" to a recognition ceremony at National Historic
Site, Andersonville, GA
10:00 A.M. - "Welcome Home" to former POW attendees from WWII, Korea, Vietnam,
and Gulf Wars
5:00 P.M. - Country Cookout at the Brickyard Plantation, Americus, GA - a
sharing of food and friendship
About Rolling Thunder
Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a class 501 C-4 non-profit organization with over
85 chartered chapters throughout the United States.
Membership comprises men and women with 40-45% being
non-veterans with the balance being veterans from
all wars and peacetime. Although many of its
members ride motorcycles, a person does not have to
own or ride a motorcycle to be a member, just the
time and willingness to be an advocate for troops,
veterans, and POW/MIAs. Rolling Thunder’s primary
focuses include:
-
Return of POWs
- supporting legislation to protect and demand
accountability for all live or potentially live
POWs from Iraq and Afghanistan and all previous
and future wars, including pressing for the
return of Capt. Michael Scott Speicher,
and Spc. Qusai Al-Taayie.
-
VA Benefits
- identifying and supporting legislation that
improves healthcare and retirement benefits for
active military and reservists.
-
Classification of
"POW/MIA" Status -
pressuring the U.S. Congress to restore the POW/MIA
designation and stop using the
"Missing/Captured" classification, which does
not guarantee that captured troops are given
full Geneva Convention protection.
-
Use of Legislation to
Obtain Information about Live POWs -
pressing for the U.S. to use and
communicate to Middle East countries and their
citizens the existence of The Persian Gulf War
POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002, which
provides refugee status in the U.S. to any
Middle Eastern aliens and their immediate family
who provide information leading to the rescue of
a live POW.
More Information About Rolling Thunder®
For more information about Rolling Thunder®, visit the organization’s web site at
http://www.rollingthunder1.com/index.html.
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