ALR Run To The Thunder Weekend 2016
May 27-29
Washington, DC
Registration is CLOSED! Please check in at the Registration Desk at American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax, if you still wish to register.
A number of great events are planned for American Legion Riders over Memorial Day Weekend. American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax, VA will again 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, and a number of Gold Star families will ride with us throughout the weekend.
On Sunday, the morning of Rolling Thunder, the ALR will depart Post 177 and link up with another major group of riders called "The Ride of the Patriots", approximately 5 miles from the Post.
Our ALR will be able to ride as an organized body within this group of approximately 4,000 motorcycles, and we'll have a full police escort to a good location in the Pentagon North Parking lot.
We will be able to expose many more thousands of riders and onlookers to the American Legion Riders!
Our goal is to ride as an organized and respectful body, representing the American Legion.
Presented for your review is the plan for 2016:
SITUATION:
Since 2012, our inaugural year, over 1500 American Legion Riders have joined to ride together as an organized body to the Annual Rolling Thunder demonstration in Washington DC. We anticipate many hundreds more in 2016!
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 2016 (May 27-29) 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, 29 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 26:
- Post 177 sets up to receive American Legion Riders. Limited food items available for dinner.
- Post Social Quarters open until 11 pm.
- Friday, May 27:
- 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 social tent open in Post 177 Parking Lots.
- 4:30 pm: POW Ceremony in Post 177 ballroom.
- 5:00 pm: "Friday Night Dinner" ($20 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 28:
- 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."
- 3:00: Barbecue at Post 177. Until 6:00 pm.
- 3:30 to 8:00 pm: Live Music. Three bands:
3:30 "Jaint" (cool down Blues) 4:30 "Milltown Road Kings" (Classic Rock & Roll) 6-8 pm: "Classic Spotlight Band" (headliners): classics from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's.
- Sunday May 29:
- 5:00 am: Last-minute Registration & Check-in.
- 5 - 6:15 am: Motorcycle line-up at Post 177. Follow guides.
- 4:30 - 6 am: Buffet Breakfast
- 5-6:00 am: Last opportunity to visit American Legion Emblem Sales.
- 6:30 am: ALR departs for Run To The Thunder 2016!
- 3:00 pm: After-event barbecue at Post 1976, Annandale, VA.
- 5:00 pm: After-event bands at campground.
Movement Guidance:
- American Legion Riders will proceed under police escort to join "The Ride of the Patriots", approximately 5 miles away.
- All ALR bikes will require special markers (issued at Registration AND a vehicle "Pass" for lineup with Ride of the Patriots. The passes will be issued only to the first 300 bikes that line up on Sunday morning. Any bikes over the 300 limit can depart the Post with the ALR group, but will need to ride in a separate part of the Ride of the Patriots. We hope to increase this limit next year.
- 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.
- 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!
Pentagon Parking Lot Comments
It's the focus of questions every year. There are no guarantees. We think that joining The Ride of the Patriots will enable us to get much better lineup locations within the Pentagon North Parking.
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 few years, the weather has been wonderful! And a year before, 90s! Sometimes, the better prepared you are, the less you need it!
The goal is to ride proudly as American Legion Riders.
SERVICE SUPPORT:
REGISTRATION is OPEN. Click the link above or below.
**CAMPING OPTIONS**
American Legion Post 175 (Maryland) has coordinated for camping at the Southern Maryland District Youth Camp. The campground is 37 miles away from Fairfax Post 177, but offers some great cost-effective camping options.
To view the details, go to the www.ALRRollingThunder.com web site and select the "CAMPING" page. You can purchase the bunks via the REGISTRATION process. Use the "Register Now!" button at the top or bottom of this page.
- See page to search for local hotels near Fairfax Post 177.
- Check out the other American Legion Posts in the Washington DC area.
- There are many motorcycle and veteran-related activities in the DC area all weekend.
- A buffet breakfast available at Post 177 0430 to 0600 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.
- We need VOLUNTEERS to help with parking lot control, and for Road Captains. Please let us know if you can help when you register.
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 8.
- 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.