Kimberly Norris
The Americus Times-Recorder
AMERICUS —
The chapters of Rolling Thunder raise funds every year for invited ex-POWs and MIA families.
This event is sponsored by Rolling Thunder, and it is open to the public. One event uses tickets. This is the only event where if people want to participate, there’s a fee. Everything else is free. Goal is to get public to participate in the ceremonies.
“Would love citizens to come and see what it’s all about,” Patty Christo, the Ride Home coordinator, said.
This year’s event will be the biggest yet.
“We have most POWs and MIAs coming than ever before,” Christo said.
Christo said that 99 percent of the hotels in Americus are already booked for this event, and more rooms as far as Cordele, Montezuma and Plains have been booked as a result.
Thirty-three states represented, coming as far as California and New England.
“We want to get the public of Americus ready,” Christo said.
“We meet Friday and Saturday morning in Wal-Mart at ten of 9 a.m. to leave. This is the escort ride. The Chief of Police and Fire Department will assist in blocking off the road. Anyone can come into Andersonville and park any time, day or night, for this event,” Christo said. The schedule is online.
Christo said if people come in for just one event, that’s fine, but she’d like for everyone to participate in it as much as possible.
Christo is a member of Rolling Thunder.
“It’s just such a special weekend. I certainly became more involved this year. Try to get people to come. National POW recognition day on Friday.
“We’ve made life-long friends with these people.”
Some people think Rolling Thunder are just a bunch of bikers, but Christo said it’s a lot more than that.
“We support our vets, our former POWs, and we’ll never forget our MIAs. We’re so much more than a ride from D.C. on Memorial Day. This event is indicative of this honor that we still owe to these people,” Christo said. Many members of Rolling Thunder will arrive on Wednesday.
Thursday morning, Rolling Thunder and other motorists meet in the Wal-Mart parking lot and leave before 9 a.m.
“We escort ‘The Wall’ (the 3⁄4 replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C.) to Andersonville National Historic Site to help set it up,” Christo said.
She encourages everyone to come and help set up or just watch the wall as it is being set up.
“Anyone is welcome to join us and put a panel in place.”
Many family members who don’t bike in will arrive Thursday.
This will be the fifth official year that Rolling Thunder has sponsored this event, which started out as people were invited to attend on National POW Memorial Day, and then it grew into the event that it is becoming today. “Our focus this year is the Vietnam era. We recognize World War II, Korea and current conflicts. Last year, Korea was the focus, and the year before that, it was World War II,” Christo said. “For me, personally, it’s touching. It grabs you and you just want to do more and more.”
Christo said that planning for the next event takes place not long after one event has ended. When the event is over, thank you notes and cards are sent which testify how much the activities have meant for those who experienced them.
Biographical information for people featured in The Ride Home are public and are available online.
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend. Some soldiers from Warner Robbins will be present during the event. “Anyone can come and join us and be a part of it.” Christo said that a tent will hold many of the ceremonies that will take place during The Ride Home weekend. It will hold approximately 4,000 people and will be air conditioned. The Ride Home Web site, which is maintained by Christo, features a testimonial page with quotes and pictures. Chairman of The Ride Home is Jim “Moe” Moyer. Brad Bennett, superintendent of Andersonville said The Ride Home encourages business in town.
“This is the fifth year Andersonville has sponsored this event. It’s pretty tough to find hotels during this week. We expect Sumter and Macon counties to benefit from lodging and restaurants and gift shopping that will go on,” Bennett said. Bennett said that this is the perfect opportunity for all citizens to remember the 58,000 Americans that sacrificed lives in the Vietnam War. “This exhibit will be here for nine days, and the park will be open for longer than usual for those who work regular business hours.”
The park was established for the purpose of honoring the sacrifices of Americans who were captured and imprisoned in war. Every third Friday in September is proclaimed National POW/MIA day. “Rolling Thunder promotes education and awareness of the sacrifices made by Americans, and to never forget those whose remains were never discovered.” Bennett said that a traveling exhibition Victory From Within: The American POW Experience will go into production to educate and raise awareness to public. “We’re definitely looking for volunteers to help,” said Bennett. Volunteers who are comfortable with computers will be needed to help look up names on the wall. Volunteers will also be needed to help escort others from the computer to the wall in order to help them find the names. Assistance with traffic control and parking will be needed as well because a larger number of cars are expected to be in attendance. Contact 924-0343 for more information.
