Rolling Thunder set for this weekend

The National Chapter of the Combat Veterans of America Motorcycle Club is gearing up to honor the nation’s living and deceased service members with a number of events for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

Retired Marine Randy Coker, who serves as the group’s director, explained that members ride in honor and respect for those who can no longer ride — the nation’s prisoners of war; those missing in action; and those who have been killed in combat.

“Every year during Memorial Day and Veterans Day we take time out of our schedules pay respect to those brave men and women who have gone before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Coker said. “We honor our comrades by placing flags on their graves and rendering a well deserved salute, just to say thank you.”

Coker said the CVAMC’s mission is to support all veterans, especially combat veterans, regardless of race, religion, age, sex or origin.

“We strive to conform and to fit into our communities where we live,” he said, “as a non-confrontational/non-territorial organization, showing respect for all humans. Combat Veterans of America Motorcycle Club is open to all verified combat veterans and that meet specific criteria.”

On Saturday, the group will meet at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1503 at 14631 Minnieville Road in Dale City at 9 a.m. and ride to Quantico National Cemetery, where they will place flags on the graves of those interred there.

On May 24, the group will participate in Rolling Thunder, the annual motorcycle ride that draws attention to the plight of the nation’s POWs and MIAs. The event draws thousands of riders from around the country to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“On the Sunday prior to Memorial Day, we gather together with our sister chapter from North Carolina, other veterans motorcycle clubs and veterans from all over the country and from every war since World War II in a large, police escorted formation of motorcycles and ride from the VFW in Dale City down to Washington D.C. to join thousands of others at the Vietnam Memorial and other surrounding
memorials to show our respect and admiration of the brave men and women that sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom,” Coker said.

Riders will arrive at the VFW from 6 to 8 a.m. and head out for the Pentagon/Washington, D.C. area at 8:30 a.m. with a police escort.

On May 25, the group will gather at the VFW for breakfast at 9 a.m. and head out for the annual Memorial Day Wreath Laying ceremony at Quantico National Cemetery at 10 a.m.