Veteran and Rolling Thunder founder devotes life to honoring POW/MIA

Veteran and Rolling Thunder founder devotes life to honoring POW/MIA
Loudon Times
by Andrew Sharbel, Times-Mirror Staff Writer
Sep. 20, 2013

Rolling Thunder founder Walt Sides of Round Hill, left, and Board of Directors member Rob Wilkins of Lansdowne pose on their motorcycles at Sides’ home, also the Rolling Thunder headquarters, on Sept. 18.
Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny

Through the past six world conflicts, unbeknownst to many, there is an astounding number of prisoners of war and missing in action service members.

According to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, from World War II to present time, there are more than 83,000 Americans still listed as unaccounted for or missing.

Four men started a rally 26 years ago for those 83,000.

Every Memorial Day since 1988, veterans and their rumbling engines roar into the D.C. area from the north, south and west to remember their fallen and missing brothers in arms.

Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle ride stretching from the North Pentagon parking lot over the Memorial Bridge past the Lincoln Memorial, around the National Mall to West Potomac Park, has grown during the last 26 years to become the largest single day event in the world.

Today the nation celebrates POW/MIA Recognition Day and Rolling Thunder Washington D.C. Inc. will be holding a ceremony on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to remember those who placed their country's well-being above their own.

Rolling Thunder has made it their duty to never forget those who have been lost.
read more here