Washington DC , May 30, 2004

[danausmc]

Pointman tent

[ajusmc]

The following pictures are posted at out Brother site, MarineChat. Ed Mason made his first Run for the Wall last year. He has given permission for us to post them here at our site. All descriptions are written by Ed.

Semper Fi Brother

[ajusmc]

.Don't remember Doc's name, but met him at the staging for Rolling Thunder. Said he was able to stay "green" most of his 22 years. He was gonna retire this past December. He rode with the "Band of Brothers" MC Club from Quanaco. He was playing Amazing Grace when I snapped this pic.

[ajusmc]

.For those that haven't been there, this is the Korean Vets Memorial Wall. This picture doesn't do the wall justice cause in person they look like they are coming out of the wall.

[ajusmc]

.Great Folks doing Great Work. Just had to post it here also. For those that may still be "carrying baggage" around, I urge you to get and READ a copy of "The Nam Vet". It applies to all wars, in my humble opinion.

[ajusmc]

This was taken at Rolling Thunder staging, Pentagon parking lot. Feller on the left is Capt. Brad "Fart", then CWO3 Marty ODell and yours truely. Capt. Brad and Gunner Marty each had 2 tours in Nam. Gunner Marty was medically retired cause one too many helos got shot down while he was still flying em. I explain how Capt Brad got his nickname later.

[ajusmc]

Korean War Mamorial. The silence at this sight was overwhelming.

[ajusmc]

The Stop Sign and Folded Flag you see, Gunner Marty and I placed at The Wall. The City of Van Buren, Ark. had a reception and dinner honoring the Bonsai Run to the Wall. The Stop Sign was signed by the Bikers Against Child Abuse. The Flag was flown over the Nam Vets site in Van Buren. Marty committed to place each at the Wall. For reasons unknown to me, the folks I rode with ask me to take the Flag (even though I wasn't part of the festivities in Van Buren). That was really tough on this ole man. My eyes sweat, just thinking about it all.

[ajusmc]

Just so you know, the trip to DC in '04 was not a ride - - it was a mission. We had just completed one part of our mission - - the placing of the Sign and Flag at The Wall.

[ajusmc]

My flags were on my bike for the duration. Didn't see another bike with all three flags on it.

[ajusmc]

Lots of organizations lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown, but only two biker groups are allowed in Arlington National Cemetery - - The Run for the Wall and Rolling Thunder. This pic is the reps from Run for the Wall preparing to lay our wreath. A little aside - bikes can be very loud at times, but as we were entering Arlington on Saturday before Memorial Day, it seems all the noise went away in respect for the place. Eerie!!

[ajusmc]

As if they just left the Wall.

[ajusmc]

Just part of the staging for Rolling Thunder. Last I heard there were only 500,000 plus bikes in the parade. Some where I have a pic of Marine One flying over with "W" looking us over. Will have to search for that one.

[ajusmc]

Almost forgot this one. Just in case you don't know, the whole reason behind Run for the Wall and Rolling Thunder is to keep the POW/MIA issue in front of the public and a sort of "demonstration" in DC to let our Reps and the President know that we refuse to go away or let the issue die. Run for the Wall also serves as a "healing" for those that still have issues.