ALR Run To The Thunder Weekend 2015

May 22-25

Washington, DC 

Register Now! 

A number of great events are planned for American Legion Riders over Memorial Day Weekend.  American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax, VA will serve as the host Post, and as your hub for many activities throughout the Memorial Day Weekend.  

We will also host some special and honored guests.  A Gold Star family will ride with us throughout the weekend, and SSgt Tim Chambers, known as the "Saluting Marine" will be at the Post on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.  

See the AGENDA below for all the dates and times.  To dowload a copy of the latest AGENDA, go to www.ALRRollingThunder.com

On Sunday, the morning of Rolling Thunder, the ALR will join the "Rolling Thunder" demonstration as an organized body.  We'll ride together and represent our American Legion.  Our organized ride from Post 177 in Fairfax to join Rolling Thunder at the Pentagon is called the "Run To The Thunder." 

Presented for your review is the plan for 2015:

SITUATION:

Since 2012, our inaugural year, over 1200 American Legion Riders have joined to ride as an organized body to the Annual Rolling Thunder demonstration in Washington DC.  We anticipate many hundreds more in 2015!

ALR members fully support the mission of Rolling Thunder Inc.: to publicize POW-MIA issues, to protect future Veterans, and to help American Veterans from all wars.

Memorial Day Weekend 2015 (May 22-25) is the date for Rolling Thunder Weekend, and for many patriotic and veteran-themed events throughout the Washington DC area.

MISSION:

ALR members gather from across the Nation in Washington DC to participate in events throughout the weekend and to share in the camaraderie of the American Legion Riders.  Our weekend culminates in gathering as an organized group at Fairfax Virginia Post 177 on Sunday morning, 24 May, to proudly ride together as American Legion Riders to demonstrate our unity and patriotism in support of the Rolling Thunder demonstration.  

EXECUTION:

 - Thursday, May 21: 

• Post 177 sets up to receive American Legion Riders.  Limited food items available for dinner.  
• Post Social Quarters open until 11 pm.

- Friday, May 22: 

• 8:00 am: Post 177 Open for breakfast
• 9:00 am: Registration & Check-in opens.
• Noon: American Legion Emblem Sales opens. Open all day.
• Noon: Social Quarters open for lunch. Open until 11 pm.
• Noon: Vendors and beer tent open in Post 177 Parking Lots.
• 4:30 pm: POW Ceremony in Post 177 ballroom.
• 5:00 pm: "Friday Night Dinner" ($15 inclusive) until 7 pm.
• 7:30 pm: Organized motorcycle ride to Candlelight Vigil at Vietnam Memorial in DC.  Safety briefing at 7 pm
• 
  

- Saturday May 23: 

• 8:00 am: Buffet Breakfast at Post 177.
• 8:00 am: Registration & Check-in opens - all day.
• 8:00 am: American Legion Emblem Sales open - all day.
• 9:00 am: Post 177 OPEN HOUSE (Food, tent, vendors) - all day.  Seamstress on site.
• 9:00 am: "Bike Blessings" courtesy of Christian Ministries Association.
• 11:00 am: Group ride departs from Post 177 to Arlington National Cemetery for wreath-laying ceremony by ALR National at the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns. This will be a special ALR-run ceremony near the "Arlington House."   Charter Bus available for non-riders.
• 1:00: Actual time of the Wreath-laying at Arlington.  

**NOTE: If you plan to join us at Arlington for the wreath-laying (and not ride there with us), please make sure you go to the Arlington House - also called the Lee Mansion, NOT the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.  Our ceremony is near the Arlington House at the original Tomb of the Unknowns, called the Civil War Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

• Afternoon: Informal group rides from Post 177 to local sights.  Also maps and directions available for independent rides.
  
• 2:00 to 5:00 pm:   Special Band Performance by the US Army Jazz Brass Quintet, from Fort Lee, VA.  Barbecue and beer tent open. Post Social Quarters open late.

- Sunday May 24:

• 5:00 am: Last-minute Registration & Check-in.
• 5-7:00 am: Motorcycle line-up at Post 177.  Follow guides.
• 5-6:30 am: Free Buffet Breakfast, sponsored by the Masonic Foundation of the District of Columbia.  
• 5-7:00 am: Last opportunity to visit American Legion Emblem Sales.
• 7:00 am: Patriotic Opening Ceremonies for RTT2015  in parking lot of Post 177.
• 7:30 am: ALR departs for  Run To The Thunder 2015!
• 3:00 pm: After-event barbecue at Post 1976, Annandale, VA. $20 per person

Movement Guidance:

• American Legion Riders will proceed under police escort via I-66 to Pentagon parking lots.  ALR & Rolling Thunder road guides will assist with entry to designated parking areas. 
• Additional information for entry/access into Pentagon parking lots will be provided upon final coordination with Rolling Thunder, INC and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA).
• The ALR rides as a group into Washington DC in support of Rolling Thunder.
• Helmets are required to ride as an American Legion Rider. 
• Please wear your vests and ALR markings.  It makes it easier to ID our own riders.
• Each bike must display the marker(s) issued at Registration.  The purpose is to help identify ALR riders as we move into assembly areas, and to prevent mixing with other groups.
• Once "Rolling Thunder" begins and we leave the Pentagon parking lot, we would like to open up into a formation that is 4-bikes wide, once we start to cross the Memorial Bridge into DC.  Our goal is to present a solid formation of ALR riders, moving under control in formation.  Parade-style.  Most riders go blasting down Constitution Avenue.  We'd like to do it with respect and control.  4-wide.
• The ride ends when we enter the assembly area at the end of the parade.  You are on your own to enjoy the concert, Thunder Alley, food, the sights, etc!
• Following the events downtown, all riders are invited to join us at American Legion Post 1976 in Annandale, VA for their post-Rolling Thunder party!

Pentagon Parking Lot Comments

It's the focus of questions every year.  Will we get into North Parking?  Will we bake in South Parking?  The answer is that there are no guarantees.  We'll do our best to get into North Parking, but wherever we wind up, we'll stay together.  Plan for the worst situation.  Bring your own water and snacks.   Bring something for shade, if you are imaginative.  For the past two years, the weather has been in the 60s! The year before, 90s!  Sometimes, the better prepared you are, the less you need it!  

The goal is to ride proudly as Legion Riders.

SERVICE SUPPORT:

REGISTRATION is OPEN.  Click the link above or below. 

• See page to search for local hotels near Fairfax Post 177.
• See page for list of other American Legion Posts in the Washington DC area.
• There are many motorcycle and veteran-related activities in the DC area all weekend.
• Free buffet breakfast available at Post 177 0500 to 0630 hrs.
• There is only limited water & refreshments available in Pentagon parking lots.  Please BRING YOUR OWN WATER AND SNACKS.  Be prepared for the unexpected.  It can be HOT and dry in the Pentagon parking lots, and the wait can be hours long before we move.
• ALR has coordinated with Rolling Thunder for space in the Pentagon lots, the exact location will be announced when confirmed.
• See page for list of VOLUNTEER opportunities.  We can use the help!
• You can download and print a copy of the AGENDA on the website www.ALRrollingthunder.com.

COMMAND & SIGNAL:
Observe parking lot control volunteers and measures on Sunday morning.  We have use of the Paul VI High School parking lot (next to Post 177) as well as the Post lot.

• Bikes with FLAG MOUNTS (at least 3' x 5') will form to the front of the formation.
• CB radio channel will be 32.
• See links page for email and emergency contact information
• TWITTER information: @ALRRollingThund
• FACEBOOK site: 
• http://www.facebook.com/AlrRunToTheThunder

NOTE:

Check out what is going on all weekend at an American Legion Post near where you are staying.  The host American Legion Post, Post 177 in Fairfax will have the Legion Emblem Sales in the building on Friday and Saturday, plus an Open House all day Saturday with a barbecue, vendors, and seamstress available.

Register Now!