[Nancy]

Plans are in the works now and it should be a great event if all goes well. For me this Memorial Day weekend will be busier than ever with a lot of responsibilities, more than ever before. I'll keep you posted as we go along.

Our members who are interested are always welcome to join in the activities and demonstrations and you don't have to ride a motorcycle to do it. Soon I will post a list of the events and you can decide if you can attend or not.

http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=14678

[Gregory]

Hey that's coming up, Nancy. Its so great thst you take part. Take lots of pictures.

[paul masi]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Plans are in the works now and it should be a great event if all goes well. For me this Memorial Day weekend will be busier than ever with a lot of responsibilities, more than ever before. I'll keep you posted as we go along.

Our members who are interested are always welcome to join in the activities and demonstrations and you don't have to ride a motorcycle to do it. Soon I will post a list of the events and you can decide if you can attend or not.

Hello Nancy: Will be down for Memorial Day at the Wall as I have been for the last 16 years bringing down the american and pow/mia flags for ceremonies. Hope to see you and Ace. My regards to Artie when you ride. Will be sworn in as President for our VVA chapter next week. Also looking forward to visiting our hospitalized returned warriors in th near future at Walter Reed
See you soon and God Bless the USA semper fidelis, Paul

[Ace917]

There is one description of the events here.

[Nancy]

Here are a few of my responsibilities at RTXXIV

The Candlelight Vigil at the Vietnam Wall
Laying a wreath at the Navy Memorial
Harley store visit to thank our sponsor
Walter Reed visit
VA hospital visit
Tribute to the troops with Gen Gates
Rehearsal for Sunday show
Ride to the Wall
Show
Laying a wreath at the WWII Memorial

Ceremony at the Wall
Memorial Day Concert on the Mall

[voice1]

This event is deeply meaningful to people like me who lived through Vietnam but were too young to comprehend its impact on those who served. Vietnam remains a soundbite to my youth. Cronkite reporting. Kids protesting. GIs coming home to acrimony.

Saluting these people might make up a small piece of the debt we owe them not only for their service but to the pain inflicted on many of them upon their return and the impact war had on them.

I am grateful to this generation and honor you with my highest respect.

[gbdawg422]

Well said, Rick, as always!

[Nancy]

All Hands Television -- Rolling Thunder

From last year...

[Ace917]

Originally Posted by Nancy

All Hands Television -- Rolling Thunder

From last year...

Some glimpses of Nancy. Excellent video!

[angel0528]

Nancy did not know which Rolling Thunder thread to put this, but there is something urgent I have to tell you. Last August I posted information about my uncle a WWII soldier, PFC George Harry Petaccio. The US Army had him erroneously listed as AWOL. I posted I was near the end of my journey and the US Army was about to change his status to MIA. I was wrong.

I had been working with a staff member from my local congressman's office for the last two years. I was lead to believe by him the Casualty and Mortuary Affairs office, US Army Resources Command was going to recommend my uncle's status be changed. For the last six months I have been unable to speak to anyone from my congressman's office. My letters, phone calls, and e-mails have been ignored. I do not understand what happened.

I went onto the Rolling Thunder website as I often do and noticed we finally have a local chapter close to us in Frederick, MD. I wrote to that chapter today. I am hoping they can help me. Congressman Bartlett's staff is literally ignoring me. I am hoping they would not ignore Rolling Thunder. I do not understand what went wrong. I will let you know what happens.

[Nancy]

Yikes! I'm sorry, Angel. Let us know how it goes at the Rolling Thunder meeting.

[Adam Anders]

So happy you are still involved with this Nancy, it is so wonderful. Thank you!

[Nancy]

Bulletin from the cause: PTSD disabled vets should be protected under the Federal Americans with Disability Act?

Posted By: Jack Cunningham
To: Members in PTSD disabled vets should be protected under the Federal Americans with Disability Act
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) App Helps Thousands

WASHINGTON (May 17, 2011) - The PTSD Coach smartphone application (app), launched in April by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD), has already helped more than 5,000 users connect with important mental health information and resources.

"This new tool is about helping Veterans and Servicemembers when and where they need it," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We are encouraged so many have already downloaded this resource and hope many more will utilize this convenient tool to access
VA services."

Since its launch, the PTSD Coach app has been downloaded by thousands of individuals. While 96 percent of the users so far are located in the United States, the app has also been downloaded in 25 other countries.

The app lets users track their PTSD symptoms, links them with public and personalized sources of support, provides accurate information about PTSD, and teaches helpful strategies for managing PTSD symptoms on the go.

Currently, the PTSD Coach app has received perfect customer review scores on the iTunes App Store. Comments from Veterans and family members are overwhelmingly positive and one user describes the app as "a must for every spouse who has a family member with PTSD." Professionals have sent positive reviews, suggestions and offers to collaborate on research evaluating the PTSD Coach app.

The app has also already proven to be a useful tool for the staff at the Veterans Crisis Line. Within the first two hours of the app's official launch, the Crisis Line staff were contacted by a distressed Veteran who reported being instructed by the app to call the crisis line and was subsequently given an appointment at the local VA medical center.

Crisis Line staff have begun to regularly recommend this resource to callers.

The app is one of the first in a series of jointly-designed resources by the VA National Center for PTSD and DoD's National Center for Telehealth and Technology to help Servicemembers and Veterans manage their readjustment challenges and get anonymous assistance. Given the popularity of mobile devices, VA and DoD hope to reach tens of thousands of Veterans, Servicemembers, and their family members with the new suite of apps.

Information on the PTSD Coach app is on the VA's National Center for PTSD
Website:Mobile App: PTSD Coach - National Center for PTSD. More apps from DoD's National Center for Telehealth and Technology can be found at:
Mobile Applications | T2 Health.

[Nancy]

Every time I read something about PTSD or Agent Orange I think of Hank and Brandie and wonder how they are doing.

[Nancy]

We have another speaker for RTXXIV - please see attached bio. He will be in the Pentagon parking lot and will be riding in the demonstration with us. Welcome Home Congressman West and Thank you for serving.

Congressman Allen West proudly and humbly serves the constituents of Florida's 22nd district, encompassing parts of beautiful Broward and Palm Beach Counties along South Florida's coastline.

Born and raised in the inner city of Atlanta, in the same neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once preached, patriotism is in Congressman West's blood.

His father was a Corporal in the U.S. Army and served in the European theater of operations in WW II, and his mother, the outspoken and lovable*"Snooks" West, worked as a civilian on a local Military Installation. Congressman West's nephew currently serves in the Army.

Before retiring as an Army Lieutenant Colonel, West served as a Field Artillery Officer in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country. "My father was proud of his own service, and believed that serving your country was the greatest of all honors," West said.

"Both of my parents taught me that it was not necessary to rely on a government handout to achieve my goals. They wanted me to believe in myself and told me that in America, with hard work, all things are possible.

In 2004, after serving 22 years in the Army, West retired from the Military, and brought his wife, Angela, and two daughters, Aubrey and Austen, to South Florida, to be closer to his wife's family. Congressman West taught high school for one year and then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian advisor to the Afghan army.

A proud conservative and American patriot, and with the encouragement of friends and neighbors, Congressman West decided to make a bid for Congress. With a purely grassroots movement, that ignited support across the country, West's fresh, no nonsense approach launched him from being a virtual unknown to raising the second highest amount of money for a Congressional candidate in the entire country. Almost all of the donations pouring in to Congressman West's 2010 campaign were from individual donors.

In November of 2010, Congressman West was honored to be able to continue his oath of service to his country when he was elected to be a Representative in the United States Congress. "I have traded in my camouflage uniform for a suit," West said. "But the commitment to protect the people of the United States is still my mission."

Congressman West received his Bachelor's degree while on an ROTC scholarship at the University of Tennessee and later went on to get a Master's degree from Kansas State University, both in political science. He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military operations. 



In his Army career, Congressman West has been honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps Assault School.

He proudly wears the Army Master parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Navy/Marine Corps parachutist insignia, Italian parachutist wings, and German proficiency badge. In his free time, Congressman West enjoys cheering on his beloved Tennessee Volunteers, is an avid distance runner, a certified SCUBA diver, motorcyclist, and attends Community Christian Church in Tamarac, FL.

[Mel B]

Being in the service was an honor for me. I had planned to make it a career. People always said about me that I'd either make Admiral (I was still a rebel in the military) or get kicked out on my ass. But fate had other plans for me. The first day I was allowed to wear my dress uniform, with it's gold stripe uncovered (the uniform was tailored but the stripe was covered up with tape until formal commissioning), is a day I'll never forget.

[Nancy]

Levi Aho has been on a cross-country bicycle tour and is "dedicating my ride to all fallen service members and their families, from any conflict and any generation." Read more in his blog.

Levi made his final leg today escorted by members of NC-5. Please see photos below, copyright Alina Smith, who rode with her mom, Ann, as RT accompanied Levi to Emerald Isle, N.C. Alina also took videos as well which she hopes to make available soon, as they are in HD.

Unfortunately, media was too busy today to cover this, but Levi was very appreciative of Rolling Thunder® members for supporting him. I believe his entire trip was 3235 miles from coast to coast.

It was a good day! We should see Levi in DC next weekend.

[Ace917]

What a guy! What an effort!

Hand salute.

[Nancy]

From Levi's blog

Levi Aho
I am 22 years old and have what people go through life without ever finding, inner peace and happiness. Nothing can keep me down, life will always knock you to your knees but you must keep picking yourself up and staying positive. Life is too short to be miserable.

I continually find and enjoy the little reasons that make living great, from every simple breath I take to the people that mean the most to me and everything else as well

Just hold your head high and be proud of who you are.

What a guy!

[MikeHOU]

A great way to live life!