From Jennifer Harper in the Washington Times today: District to be ‘Thunder’-struck.

“Rolling Thunder” is a most fitting motto.

Indeed, thousands of bikers are rolling along the Washington area’s roadways today with plenty of gumption and an unabashed carbon footprint. Exhaust pipes are vibrating, pistons are pumping, and it is, well, thunderous.

For the 21st year in a row, the two-wheeled crusade called Rolling Thunder has taken over the capital of the free world. An estimated 350,000 motorcyclists — plus their intrepid passengers, activists, organizers, fans and awestruck spectators — have assembled here to draw America’s attention to fallen soldiers, lost warriors, prisoners of war, honored veterans and military families.

[...]

“First thing, this is about supporting America and our folks in the military, past and present. It’s about love of country, love of bikes. People have a calling to be here,” said Pete Ries, a detention officer from Fredericksburg, who has ridden “Old Blue” — his spotless, chrome-crowned Harley-Davidson — in the annual event a half-dozen times.

[...]

The experience is unique, even for Mr. Ries, a Vietnam-era Army vet who has ridden motorcycles for four decades.

“It’s a sea of bikes when we’re assembling at the Pentagon. Every kind you can imagine. It takes five hours. Then the word finally comes — ‘Start those engines.’ You hear the thunder as we fire up, row after row, like a wave coming — then we start the move forward. When it’s your turn to go, it’s unbelievable. People get choked up,” Mr. Ries said.

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