FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. - Two-by-two, 60 motorcyclists proceeded down Cooper Avenue as the roar of their engines echoed across McGlachlin Parade Field. At the end of the road a color guard waited to raise a black flag in honor of U.S. prisoners of war and service members missing in action.
Members of Rolling Thunder chapters in Maryland and Virginia joined service members, veterans and civilians Sept. 16 for the motorcycle ride through Fort Meade in observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Each year, commemorations are held throughout the country on the third Friday of September for National POW/MIA Recognition Day, one of six national observances for which Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families' POW/MIA flag.
According to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office website, more than 80,000 service members have not been accounted for since World War II -- 73,000 of whom served in that war.
Rolling Thunder is a nonprofit, national organization that focuses on raising public awareness of prisoners of war and service members missing in action. The group also helps support veteran issues for veterans of all ages.
Every year, Rolling Thunder sponsors a "Ride for Freedom" event in Washington, D.C., that draws hundreds of thousands of bikers from across the country to support the organization's cause.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 2 Warren Moritz, who has been riding with Rolling Thunder for 10 years, said the motorcycle rides serves as a noisy reminder of the POWs and MIAs.
"Rolling Thunder is a reminder to the government that we still care about our POWs and MIAs," Moritz said. "We will keep reminding them until every one of them comes home."
For those who stood Friday at the McGlachlin Parade Field flagpole before sunrise, the motorcycle ride honored the estimated 80,000 missing service members.
"We've lost Soldiers and some are not accounted for," said Chief Warrant Office 4 Swindell Autry of Army Cyber Command. "This is a way to show our dedication and [that] they are not forgotten."
The riders were organized by retired Air Force Capt. Chris Wertman, a member of Rolling Thunder. While a majority of the Rolling Thunder members are veterans, it is not a requirement for membership.
During Friday's ride, the 60 bikers, including members of the Nam Knights and the United States Military Veterans Motorcycle Club, met outside the Reece Road gate and at the commissary parking lot at 5:45 a.m. Fifteen minutes later, the two groups combined and began their nearly one-mile ride from the Post Exchange to the parade field.
After parking in front of First Army Division East headquarters, the riders dismounted and gathered around the flagpole, where Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein was presented with a POW/MIA flag to fly below the American flag.
"What better way to represent America than rolling out of here on a bunch of Harleys?" Autry said. "That's what it's all about, having a little bit of fun in their memories."
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