It was Memorial Day Weekend in Washington, D.C., marked not by the calendar or by the too-few American flags in the Rockwellian neighborhoods, but by the continuous roar that shook these once-safe havens. The sound rumbled forth from thousands of large, gleaming, gorgeous (insert additional adjectives here) motorcycles, all seeming the Harley ilk.
For its 21st year, this pestilence visited upon us under the guise of remembering the fallen is Rolling Blunder (uh, Thunder for purists), though the group’s purpose seems otherwise.
It’s a misguided motorcycle rally.
Admittedly, some aspects were different this year. In the past, Blunder riders, with their babes perched atop their HOG thrones, would have the classic red, white, and blue fluttering gracefully next to the rebel-without-a-clue POW-MIA black-and-white standard. It seems someone got the clue and many of flags, which do more to act as road hazards than inspire patriotism, were gone — though the backseat babes remained.
Blunder National Executive Director Artie Muller figured he needed to pander to the non-Blunder majority, saying the group was there to honor the fallen. (Message: We’re not here to berate America regarding the “POW-MIA” non-issue.) Ah, but Blunder’s Web site says otherwise. Though it states, “Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Is Not a Motorcycle Club” (could have fooled us), it continues, “All members of this organization must be willing to help fight the prisoner of war missing in action issue, which still exists.”
Talk to riders at random, and they are sold on the POW-MIA “issue.” Probe further and you might find they don’t understand its meaning.
Back in the real world the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) long has done tremendous work worldwide locating, recovering, and identifying the remains of the fallen from conflicts from World War II forward. The task is challenging, and DoD personnel risk their lives on their many recovery missions. DPMO publishes its findings and regularly briefs family members. In watching this well-orchestrated Herculean effort from our limited vantage, we are mystified by Blunder’s self-serving actions. Ask Blunder riders about DPMO, and many have no knowledge about these DoD efforts. Yet the spectacle continues.