Sep 02 2015
We went to see Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club escort a small replica of the Viet Nam Wall from Wapakoneta to Sidney Ohio where it will be on display over the week-end. They were all at the local VFW to get started and came through town just 3 short blocks from us and picked up some riders from the local Amvets.
They had said as many as 8,000 motorcycles may attend. I don’t think there were that many but probably at least 2,000. It was pretty awesome, more motorcycles than I have ever seen in one place. They started at 6:30 and it was a solid stream of motorcycles for about 45 minutes. They moved steady about 10 to 15 mph. There were more different makes of cycles than I have ever seen and a lot of 3 wheelers. I was surprised at the many female riders; I would say close to 20%. It was great when some would rev them up and you could hear that roar!
The truck and trailer hauling the wall was about in the middle of all the motorcycles. Our DIL and grandson went with us to see it and our son came after he got off work. They had to leave to take the grandson to soccer practice. The grandson took pictures with my new pocket camera and did a great job. I took 69 pics and was surprised he took 77!
You can see in the background of the photo of my wife and me; Sandman’s carry out. Just down the street is Woody’s Diner; which was the old Greyhound bus stop where I met Nancy about 50 years ago.
After we got home I downloaded all my pics, and later Nancy showed me a photo of the wall that was going to be on display in Sidney. It is rather small and to me not worth going to see. There are several traveling walls and one that is 80% the size or the one in Washington DC would be worth seeing. I feel a little sad that sometimes we use veteran causes as money makers and not for the respect those who we are honoring deserve; especially the ones who died for this country and whose names are on the wall!
In 1966 and 1967 while stationed at WPAFB, Dayton Ohio I was a volunteer for the Honor Guard, we covered requests for Military Funerals in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana area. In about a year I was honored to participate in six funerals of fellow airmen who had died in Viet Nam. I never kept track of the names but wished I had. The artist that designed the wall said the “names are important” and they are to their families forever!
At the VFW
At the Amvets
Grandson
Me and my boss
Parade start
Lady with a powder blue Harley
Woody's with the brick front where I met Nancy 50 years ago
Smokin Don
