From 2 March 1965 to 2 November 1968 the United States Air Force, Navy, Marine Corp and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) were engaged in a bombardment operation against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the Vietnam War, this was Operation Rolling Thunder. The title Rolling Thunder is now used by an amazing veteran organization going by the name Rolling Thunder Inc. I strongly encourage you to take the time to read up on the organization and support them if you can.
In 2009 I was on my way back to the sandbox and I crossed paths with a gentleman by the name of Artie Muller during a layover in North Carolina. Artie is one of the funders of this fine organization, the other gentleman is Ray Manzo. Artie and I exchanged information, he and the organization began sending care packages to my unit for the duration of that particular deployment. We stayed in touch for my remaining time in the service which was great. Not only because it is great to know people like Artie but because Rolling Thunder sent awesome care packages every time I was in one of the sandboxes. In May 2012 I went on terminal leave which was great timing because it lead to the following experience in life that I am going to tell you about...
Mamma Bear, Connie Stevens and I - 2012
Memorial Weekend 2012
Now I know that isn't the best of photographs however it is what we have. The lady between my mother and I is Connie Stevens, she was there in support of the event. Not long after I got back from my Afghanistan deployment I began to ETS (Expiration of Term of Service) from the US Army after nine years of service. During which lined up with Memorial Weekend 2012, I was asked by Artie to be one of the guest speakers in Washington DC as part of the Ride To The Wall, which I humbly accepted the honor of speaking in Washington DC as a guest of the Rolling Thunder's event. I was just a buck sergeant in the United States Army, I did my best to not be a shitbag.
My mother and I went to the capital to participate in the Ride To The Wall 2012. It was a great experience! There was an amazing amount of people in DC to support the Rolling Thunder plus people from around the United States and world in general there in remembrance of the sacrifices of our men and women. There are many, many organizations that flood Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend to honor the immense number of Americans who have fallen in the line of combat in the name of the freedom, it is very humbling.
I don't really have much to say about this event. There are no words that can explain or express the experience and the meaning of the day. While I was in town I made sure to visit a couple of my friends...
Arlington National Cemetery
We went to the Washington D.C. VA hospital to visit the patients and walked The Wall to pay respects to the men and women who died in service while in Vietnam. As I walked along the wall I thanked God that I wasn't one of the men lost in battle then thanked these men and women for their sacrifice. While people will debate the meaning of war, especially Vietnam no one can deny these people paid the ultimate price because Uncle Sam asked them to take the risk. None of these people deserved to die. To lose their life, cause pain to the friends and family back in the states. Traumatize those by their side as they breathe their last breath. These are things that so many people ignore and don't understand. Some people claim to understand yet there is a giant difference when it strikes your life directly. The disconnect that so many people have is a curse yet a fortunate thing at the same time. A curse because it causes them to seem heartless to those that are in need of support but protects them from having to suffer so greatly themselves. I do not wish this pain upon anyone.
When the day came I joined the group as we rode on the thunderous motorcycles through D.C. to the staged location for the speeches and performances. I listened intently to the speakers before me then when it was my turn I walked on stage and spoke with pride and in honor of my fallen brothers and sisters.
I hope that what I expressed made a positive impact on those that heard and those that serve afterwards. There will always be wars which means we will always have people falling in service to the United States Of America for as long as this country lives. I just hope that we can support these men and women as they walk the military path. Regardless of which branch a person is serving in the ultimate cost is no less.
Please take a moment to salute those that have lost their life so that we can live ours.
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