Captain

Scott Speicher

 

History of Rolling Thunder®
Rolling Thunder Continues To Grow.
By Linda Bordner
U.S. Veteran Dispatch Staff Writer
March 2001
Of course, some of the most important work Rolling Thunder does takes place far from the rolling cameras. During the 363 days between Memorial Day weekends, Rolling Thunder representatives lobby for laws which will ensure no American fighting men will ever be left alone on foreign soil after the shooting stops and the politicians shake hands. There's a tremendous irony in the fact that it is necessary to make it law for the military to account for its own.

Muller notes with pride that Rolling Thunder joined POW/MIA groups to press forward the passage of a bill assuring that federal government buildings would include the POW/MIA flag in colors flown on national holidays. Journeys to far off former war zones like Vietnam are sponsored and staffed by Rolling Thunder efforts.

Closer to home, volunteers regularly visit their local VA hospitals to bring meals, clothing, personal items and just old-fashioned companionship to hospitalized vets. Many of these patients have no visiting friends or relatives so the brotherhood of other vets is the only real family tie they enjoy.

That it continues to grow in leaps and bounds says a lot for Rolling Thunder's success. The 39 state chapters in 2000 grew to 48 in early 2001. No one questions expectations that in short order every state in the Union will be fully represented by its own Rolling Thunder chapter.

Still, Muller sees in its success a certain sadness. In Rolling Thunder Times, the organization's newsletter, he writes, "I am sorry to say that Rolling Thunder XIV will be May 27th 2001. That means there are still POWs unaccounted for throughout the world."