Well thank God for the men and women who went before us....For they have given us the rights to make comment as we feel is correct. Am 62...served in Marines from 63-67. I have been to "Rolling Thunder"...have watched
the parade...visited the Memorials...WW 2...Korean...Vietnam Wall. All very touching Monuments indeed. Yes, as I stood at the wall and laid my hands on my friends names from years gone by...one in particular; as he died in my lap. I recalled with tears the day he was killed...and smiled, as I remembered the times we enjoyed before that day. I sat and recalled the first person life I ended, and cried as I thought... did this man die with a family?...was he missed by his friends? as I miss mine. Then with my wife at my side we walked back to our bike and rode away...silent for sometime. Yes I'm a flag waver...and I indeed enjoy seeing people celebrate they way they choose to. For that am I a bad, and a shallow American...Shallow because I understand what it means to be in harms way. Are is it something else..is it because Rolling Thunder is like, as another said a protest to the way we... as returning vets were treated...as our country turned their backs on our Mia's and Pow's...because this is what Rolling Thunder is all about...We must never let our country do this again. No its not a celebrations of death ..but a protest for those left behind. Is it wrong the way its handled...I for one don't know...but I respect the rights of those who believe its their way to morn..or remember...are what ever there feeling may be...Many of us know no other way to say "Welcome Home" . I have noticed this tread and fought hard within myself not to comment, as I first read it I wanted to throw my computer out the freaking window! Then as I read some of the comments of a few I thought..well maybe...just maybe they are getting the wrong idea what it really all about. So stop and think...you can disagree with "Rolling Thunder"...but please respect the rights of everyone as I respect your right to disagree. If you were inconvenienced for a few minutes..Think about those that have been inconvenienced for the rest of our lives. The nightmare...our families being afraid to wake us...the tears we still shed as we remember..to those of us :most of us still suffer with our thoughts...You will not hear too many of us talk about it...But damn it ! it still hurts us in our mind and hearts...if we want to yell! raise our fist!...are stand in silence...RESPECT US for that...Sorry folks wasn't gonna post on this thread...but some of ya just don't understand. I ride with the PGR...for those who know what that is...then you will understand when i say ...as I talk to the young men, and women who return from the middle east...they say thank you..as if it wasn't for the Vietnam Vets we would not be treated as well as we do upon returning home...To the people who don't know "Rolling Thunder" was started by Vietnam Vets. Nuf said! :42: