Rolling Thunder Riders Did Not Want Politics A Part of Rally

Organizers of the Rolling Thunder events held in Washington D.C. over the Memorial Day weekend celebrated their 24th year of honoring veterans and bringing awareness to the public about the service members that paid the ultimate price and that were left behind as POWS or Missing in Action.

The news that Sarah Palin intended to join the group on their yearly ride was questionable, according to the organizers of the event. The ride is to focus on past and present service members and they were hoping that everyone riding and watching their ride through Washington D.C. was there for demonstration purposes that focus on service members, instead of it becoming a political event.

One organizer Ted Shpak stated that during the 24 years of this annual ride there have been politicians that have participated, but have kept politics out of the event. The Rolling Thunder riders protested the undercounting and the reporting of service members missing during the Vietnam War.

According to Shpak, Palin is not speaking at the event and they are not endorsing anyone. The organizers also stated that they are not aware of Palin taking a position on veteran’s issues or those service members missing in action. The Rolling Thunder members hope that Palin would not be a distraction from the issues of past and present wars, which organizers stated there are two MIAs now with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

According to Palin’s people she had been invited to join in the ride from the Pentagon to D.C. by a former Rolling Thunder board member. One Palin supporter LaDonna Curzon stated that she does not believe that Palin’s presence will turn the ride into a political event. She also believes that Palin joined the group for the experience of honoring past and present service members.

According to organizer Joe Bean the public needs to support and help veterans from the day they get out. Palin was asked to speak at a group conference last year, according to Shpak and Bean, but they never received an answer. This has been a public service message from the motorcycle accident attorney at Ehline Law Firm PC at 633 West Fifth Street, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071. 213.596.9642.