Hundreds of thousands of motorcycles descend on Washington, DC each Memorial Day weekend in an event accurately called "Rolling Thunder" by all who've been there for it. Veterans, their family and friends, many in motorcycle clubs and driving the loud, distinctive sounding Harley Davidson, use Rolling Thunder to publicize POW-MIA issues. The mission of organizer Rolling Thunder®, Inc. has recently grown to also include a commitment to helping American veterans from all wars and educate the public on issues affecting American war veterans.

The high point of the weekend's activities is a massive parade of these motorcycles which begins at The Pentagon, passes in front of Arlington National Cemetery, crosses the Memorial Bridge and begins a circle of the National Mall. Along the way the parade is impossible to miss from The White House and The Capitol Building, the roar of the motorcycles unmistakable even many blocks beyond. The parade ends near the Korean War Veterans Memorial where motorcycles are parked in orderly rows and participants walk past the somber Vietnam Veterans Memorial, referred to by everyone using it's more common name, "The Wall."

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