Rolling Thunder Rally Up to Honor Vets on Motorcycles (VIDEO)
While some will be celebrating more peaceful Memorial Days and other may have forgotten just what the holiday is in celebration of, citizens of Washington D.C. will have one loud reminder when Rolling Thunder storms in over the weekend.
The annual Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally takes place on Sunday in Washington D.C. and was developed to honor military veterans and those missing in action. It isn't a great weekend to drive in to D.C., as police will be blocking off Fairfax Boulevard Sunday morning for Ride of the Patriots, reducing both eastbound and westbound traffic to a single lane in a pre-rally set up by the local Harley Davidson dealership.
Later on, Rolling Thunder will storm through beginning in Arlington near the Pentagon and heading onwards to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Over 400,000 riders are expected to come up according to the local NBC news station.
The event, for many, is more than just a typical cruise around Washington, D.C..
"It has been considered by bikers to be the most emotional and meaningful event of the year," Forbes magazine reported.
Merely the announcement of the event aroused some users to comment and pay respects to military veterans everywhere.
"So upset I'm missing this year's ride!" NYVAGovvie worte on the Wall Street Journal blog. "Thanks to all the vets, past, current and future for writing that blank check to the United States, for the amount up to and including their lives...We owe you so much! God bless!"
"Roll On Rolling Thunder it a pleasure to see you all each year.......My DAD a Korea/Vietnam Veterans over 20 years served.....Bless you GUYS......" notdumbenuf added.
Washington Boulevard will be closed Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., which means traffic near the Memorial Bridge. Drivers beware and watch out for the Thunder.