Rolling Thunder Memorial Day Weekend 2010.
Article By : Robert Harris

As I have done for the past three years I left my home in Florida and made the long journey north to Washington , D.C. to lend my support to Rolling Thunders Ride for accountability of our P.O.W.’s and M.I.A.’s as well as to share the Veterans Tribute Bike with my fellow Vet brothers . To welcome them home and honor all who served.

On Saturday 29th of May I set up the Tribute Bike on Constitution Avenue alongside Thunder Alley. I put out my donation box as I have done over the years to raise funds to help my less fortunate Vet brothers who are homeless and living on the streets. As usual, my Vet brothers who could, made donations for if us Vets don’t help our brothers in need who will?

It was good to see old friends again and make new ones. It did my heart well to know that my Vet brothers appreciated and paid Tribute to the motorcycle which honored and paid Tribute to them. I all so would like to thank the D.C. Police Officers who were there for their help and common courtesy. Thank you my brothers.
The crowd seemed a lot smaller than past years, possibly because we are a dieing breed.

(Soldier conveys his gratitude to Robert Harris)

The following morning as I did for the past three years I arrived at the North Pentagon Parking Lot at around 5:00 a.m. I was met by a grumpy Rolling Thunder Security brother who showed me were to park the Tribute Bike until it could be placed. Not to worry. I guess I would be a little grumpy to if I had to be at work before sunrise. As the sun rose I noticed only two rows of bikes lined up. In the past the lines of bike there at sunrise would have been many.

When I was finally placed behind the escorts for the Gold Star Mothers I took out my donation ammo tin and placed it on my bike seat. Moments later a Rolling Thunder Security came charging up to me and practically jumped in my chest in a bad tone of voice and with a bad attitude to boot. He said that I was not allowed to solicit donations and that if I did not put the donation box away I would be physically removed from the parking lot. I humbly apologized stating that I did not know and immediately put the ammo tin back in the sidecar wrapped in a blanket and closed the canopy. After returning from getting a cup of coffee I noticed that the sidecar canopy was open and the donation ammo tin missing. A Vet brother told me that two Rolling Thunder Security took it. Where I come from that is against the law. I am sure that if I opened up their car door and removed anything that did not belong to me I would have been charged for larceny. I went in search of the security personal who had stolen my empty donation ammo tin. They returned the ammo tin and showed me where they wanted me to move the Tribute Bike which was further back then it had ever been placed before. A short while later another security told me I had to move the Tribute Bike again. This time the Tribute Bike was placed so far in the back of the Pentagon Parking Lot that the only thing behind it was trees. I found a more senior Security who said he would find out what was going on. It seems that for the short time the donation box was out numerous Rolling Thunder personal reported the sitting to numerous Security which made it look like I had defied the initial request to cease and desist and continued to try and raise funds which was not the case. At that point I went in search of Artie “ The Dictator” Muller. When I came to Rolling Thunder the first time I indicated to Artie that the significance of the Tribute Bike and what it stood for and represented would be determine by where it was placed in the order of the ride. Artie in his wisdom and respect for the Tribute bike and what it stood for placed the Tribute Bike once behind the cage, once behind the flag truck and once some where in between.

When I found Artie and explained the situation to him his reply was that there was nothing he could do. When a “ Dictator” can no longer dictate that means that he lost his position as a dictator. It seems that Rolling Thunders Security had over thrown the Dictator and that Artie was no longer in charge. The security now called the shots.

If one disrespects the American Flag they disrespect all who fought to insure that the Stars Spangled banner still waves. When one disrespects a Tribute, which honors all who served, they disrespect all who served. If they themselves served it is like they are cutting off their nose to spite their face. I did not travel all the way from Florida to Washington, D.C. to be smited and disrespected by Rolling Thunders Security who acted more like German S.S. Troops with their heads chopped off. I have not experienced that kind of disrespect since I got off the plane from Vietnam and was met by War protestors. This cut a lot deeper because it was inflicted by Vets to a Vet. It will however never happen again.

My records show that I have earned my jump wings, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Purple Heart, Air Medal, and Medal for Valor and I refuse to be disrespected by Rolling Thunders Gestapo Security with piss poor attitudes. I left the Pentagon Parking Lot and did not ride in the protest.

The Veteran Tribute Bike will no longer support or take park in Rolling Thunders Ride for Accountability. It will do what it was built to do which is to honor all who served and to raise money to help get my homeless Vet brothers of the streets. We never left a brother behind on the battlefield and I will not leave them behind on the streets.

Check our website for our schedule, www.veterantributebike.org. We will be at fundraising events we have been invited to which we deem worthy. We will definitely be at a worthy event next Memorial Day health permitting and God willing.

Never forget that all gave some – some gave all
Time was served – time to honors.
The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.
If you love and enjoy your freedoms donated to organizations which help our Veterans in need.

We are the land of the free because of the brave.
Robert Harris – Sky Soldier
American Vets Tribute Bike Inc. ( Volunteer )
P.S.
Your still my brother Artie – God Bless You.
Love Ya Bro.Thanks – for all your help in the past.

www.Veterantributebike.org 

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