Sunday, May 25, as night gave way to morning, members of Fairfax HOG were already staging parking and coordinating for the events of this day. In keeping with the rich tradition the Fairfax HOG chapter with their sponsor Patriot Harley-Davidson began their 16th Annual Ride of the Patriots. Looking back to remember my first ride, I had no idea I was sharing the start of a great tradition of Memorial Day celebration with that ride to Rolling Thunder. I think we might have had 2,000 bikes that first year. I can remember the city leaders were not so sure of this motorcycle mass event. From that rocky start the Ride of the Patriots is now the city of Fairfax’s Memorial Day event. As always, Ride of the Patriots is in support of Rolling Thunder and this 27th year will once again see riders from all over the country and the world to gather and make a statement regarding of a promise not kept, bring everyone home. Embraced by the city leaders and the citizens of Fairfax, the Ride of the Patriots to Rolling Thunder begins with a parade down the Main Street of Fairfax, Virginia. The parade is highlighted by an honor guard from Perishing’s own, followed by the precision marching and music of the Fairfax High School Band, and the Northern Virginia Firefighter’s Emerald Society Pipe Band … ah the sound of bag pipes in the morning … and of course we have both the motor units from Fairax city and county, as well as the American Legion and others who make the parade special. The opening ceremony brings the community and bikers together to recognize the significance of this day with words shared from City leaders, State and Federal Delegates, and this ride even enjoyed a speaker from the motor company HarleyDavidson. From the beginning there have been special speakers, starting with War Correspondent Joe Galloway, who as a civilian was awarded the Bronze Star in Vietnam. This year we were given words to remember by Commander Kirk Lippold, the skipper of the USS Cole on 12 October 2000. As the skipper after the suicide attack which claimed 17 sailors, he led his crew to save a sinking ship in what many today realize as the start of our long campaign against al-Qaeda. Commander Lippold still expressed true
emotion in his voice as he spoke proudly of his crew and their American spirit to not let this ship be a victim but a light of honor in the history of the U.S. Navy. As he spoke of his crew, I understood that Commander Lippold and his crew were like the sailors at Pearl Harbor; extraordinary Americans, who faced a totally unexpected surprise attack, maintain composure, provided leadership, and focused on their duty. Bob DeHaven, the owner of Patriot Harley-Davidson, joined by his mother and father (who was a WWII veteran), shared words of patriotism with all gathered in the front. He held up to the crowd bumper stickers that his mother had saved since the mid-60s; one saying “POWs never have a nice day,” and another saying “POW’s – Never Forget.” As I looked at the crowd I noticed a change. Now, at 62, I was one of the older veterans. Now like I had 15 years earlier, younger veterans from our more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan brought their kids to make this ride, to introduce them to the meaning of being a real patriot. Rolling Thunder is a ride of protest. Patriots by nature are ones who stand and protest as our Founding Fathers protested to their government in England and founded 13 united colonies. Mark Twain in a pearl of wisdom said … “Loyalty to country ALWAYS loyalty to government when it deserves it.” Rolling Thunder and the Ride of the Patriots is a ride which honors our responsibility as citizens to hold our government accountable. Who has the best speaking voice, that of veterans who took an oath to “… support and defend the Constitution of the United Sates …” Those of us here owe our comrades this unwavering support. As Patriots, we ride with our bikes to keep the world aware of that basic promise not kept. The promise to bring us all home and accounted for. As the speeches ended and the cheering died away the silence was pierced by the 24 notes of TAPS played by a single bugle. As the last note faded even the birds were quite. The silence hung heavy for a minute or two when the air erupted into the deep rolling thunder as over 4,500 motorcycles came to life. This rolling thunder of power was felt in our bones and provided that unique sensation
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