MEMORIAL DAY ... ROLLING THUNDER

(Click on the still images to enlarge)

A Young Lady from Chicago High-Fiving the troops!

White House Lawn Party
(I shot this with one hand while riding my Harley, so it is off level)

Washington DC is so beautiful this time of year. As I rode into town on George Washington Parkway from the beltway, the stunning beauty just jumped out at me. The greenery, and the Potomac River filled with boats of all sizes and disciplines screamed summer throughout the land. Later in the day as we all rode through town the natural wonder of our Capitol came to life. After making that right turn onto Constitution Avenue the mature American Elm trees lined the path in a wonderful display of nature and city in a landscape that complements them both. On the other side of the parade path came the lovely Green Ash trees of Independence Avenue; they now guided the half a million motorcycles and their riders. These riders found their way here from all points that converged on DC, not unlike the old mountain men of the west that likewise met for a rendezvous.

Sunday was Rolling Thunder Day in Washington DC. This is a protest in regard to the accountability of the missing in action, and the killed in action armed service members. While the founder and executive director of Rolling Thunder, Artie Muller, met with President Bush on the White House lawn, thousands of bikes cruised past the white house on Constitution Avenue. I shot an image of the White House as I rode by, but my invitation to attend the lawn party must have been lost in the mail. Also attending the lawn gathering was White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, a long time Harley man. President Bush noted in his speech to Artie Muller that from his chopper, which I also photographed for this week’s column, he saw the men and women riding their machines through our nation’s capitol from above.

A large percentage of the riders are veterans, with a lot of active duty military personnel along for the ride as well. I had an Army soldier and an Airborne Ranger riding directly in front of me in the parade. The parade was four hours long of bikes riding two by two past the thousands of people and other bikes lining the route. It was an incredible display of individual effort on the rider’s part to travel here to show support for the POW/MIA issues, as well as Honor all Veterans on Memorial Day.

Besides the Rolling Thunder groups from the east coast, there were two groups riding from California to the Vietnam Wall Memorial, one on the central USA route, and the other group on the Southern USA route, all to meet for Rolling Thunder on May 25, 2008. Those groups are the Run for the Wall, or RFTW. Citizens from all walks of life made the effort to ride to the event as well, to show their support for active service members, and veterans. Some rode with us in the parade, and others lined the routes showing their support. The local police and government agencies did a wonderful job of clearing the route; this very long and record-breaking procession could move without obstacles, or dangers to their safety. This tremendous and daunting task was performed without a hitch as far as I saw, or heard about.

This was a wonderful event on such a grand scale mere words cannot grasp the scope of it. I hope you can make it next year, on your spanking new Harley! See you there!

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

The Penguins are headed for the Stanley Cup!

Marine of the Year!

Two World War Two Planes Crisscross at 340 knots!

The Pens take the Philadelphia Bad Boys to the woodshed -- 6-0!
(This photo only by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Armed Forces day was yesterday and was honored in many ways, by many folks and organizations. Locally it went off without a hitch.

Unlike World War Two when citizens had to sacrifice to help the war effort by doing with less, the market place has effectively done the same now. Gas and food prices appears to be lowering people’s travel plans for the Memorial holiday and beyond. The typical Norman Rockwell trip through Americana style landscapes is being taken by less. This is a small price to pay in comparison to prior wars, but a hardship for some nonetheless. I think it will be an adjustment, but most folks will overcome when they realize the small sacrifice that they are making whether by their will or without when compared to what you over there go through daily. We will be OK; the place you left will be here upon your return…

The weather has been very wet this month. It looks like the wetness may break this week and get us back to normal temperatures for this time of year. Soon, all who are going to, will be headed out for the well-deserved summer vacation. It would be good for the economy, and the children who are the ones who miss out when times get hard. I see a wonderful summer ahead.

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Sports Update:

The Penguins took the Philadelphia bullies to the woodshed, sending them home crying after a good ole fashioned whipping! 6 to zip was the final score!!! The Pens are headed to the Stanley Cup finals! Well Done!!!

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

Wings Over Pittsburgh ... Mother's Day

Legacy Flight, F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

F4U Corsair and F/A-18 Hornet fly together. WWII Meets modern era

Raptor, Knife Edge Flyby

Raptor Burns for the Sky

F-16 in Vapor

When I Grow Up

(Click on static images to Enlarge)

Today is Mother’s Day. A day that is very wet back here in western Pennsylvania. Yesterday was not as such, and was a wonderful day to spend at the air show, “Wings Over Pittsburgh” at the Air Force Reserve field at the old airport. It was a wonderful day filled with happy smiles, and kids running from display to display amongst the roar of scary Jet engines going overhead. There was so much to do and see; from the many static aircraft displays to the aerobatic aircraft teams, be it civilian or military … to the actual dazzling air maneuvers that defied the laws of physics right before your eyes!

My favorite was the F-22 Raptor. This aircraft is as capable of a flying machine of any that I have ever envisioned. It can do things that I thought not possible until yesterday. The vintage World War Two era aircraft were a real treat as well. Seeing the F4U Corsair that took on the Japanese Zero, flying next to the F-16 Fighting Falcon was quite the contrast in technology, but not in the heart that it took to fly either in combat. The next step was seeing the F-16 next to the fifth generation fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor, in flight together. It was quite the show.

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The soldier over there can find Mother’s Day especially lonely, I know. It is no easier for Mom either as both go through the separation of war. There are no words that can take this empty feeling away, so I will not try. I only wish that you over there, and mom over here, can make something positive out of the day.

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Sports Update:

The Pittsburgh Penguins have defeated the Philadelphia Flyers for the second game in a row. They are now only two wins from going to the Stanley Cup Final! Our home ice boys are 10-1 in the playoffs so far. Well done, Penguins!

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Photos:
1. A legacy flight of two fighers side by side, the F4U Corsair--WWII, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
2. A World War Two F-4U flying side by side with a modern F-16 fighter.
3. The Raptor doing a Knife Edge flyby.
4. Looking up through the after-burner as the Raptor climbs for the sky.
5. The F-16 is pulling vapor across its wings.
6. The old man is showing the boy his first F-14, “When I grow up” is all over the boy’s face.
7. Kelly Frey, the WTAE news anchor is enjoying her jump with the Golden Knights. This is an embedded slide show. Please click on the arrow symbol to activate.

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WTAE News Anchor Kelly Frey jumps with the U.S. ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS PARACHUTE TEAM!

"Yea, Hell Yea!"

Laying of the Wreath

Rob. "Yea, Hell Yea!"

Posting a new flag

Taps

Sidney Crosby, right, celebrating Marian Hossa’s goal that beat the Rangers, who were eliminated in the second round for the second year in a row.

(This photo only by David Denoma/Reuters)



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It started its free fall from 7500 feet within the low stratus clouds. The fall abruptly ended on the front of my Helmet windscreen, as the drop hit in a circular pattern then transformed into a teardrop shape, harmlessly sliding to the bottom. By the time I reached the meeting place for our Rolling Thunder ride I was soaked to the bone. I was met by Bill who looked at the water running off of me like rats running off of the Titanic. I knew I that I must smell like an old, wet, hunting dog, but Bill being raised with proper manners never validated my feelings. Bill did drop a hammer on me by saying, “The ride is postponed until tomorrow!” That was yesterday.

Today started out at a horse show—Judged Pleasure Ride--in the very early morning. I finished the shoot there, and I barely made it back to the starting point again at the VFW lodge in Lower Burrell Pennsylvania for our “Laying of the Wreath” run. The riders were less in numbers than the day before, but it was an honorable group nonetheless that gave up their day twice to ride to honor the Vets and Troops in all wars. Soon, we were off for Kittanning for the wreath laying ceremony. We arrived at a very old cemetery that had veterans dating back to the Civil War amongst its residents. On this day the raindrops spared me, as the sun painted the perfect landscape. The ride was uneventful, a very nice and peaceful one … the healing kind.

To ride behind and watch these mostly older riders who have never lost their youthful sense of wonder put a smile on my face. They all were riding for those of you who cannot. They were riding for those who never could. They as individuals choose to ride in support of all vets, and the warmth of their passion radiated thought-out the day. I was honored to ride with them, and to cover their back.

At a red light on hwy 56, I pulled up next to Rob who is an Iraq War vet. He finished up his last tour in Iraq in 2004 and is now retired from the Army. I looked over at Rob who sitting in the traffic lane to my right, and I said, “I bet you are happy to be back, and to be riding on your Harley.” “Yea, Hell Yea” Rob exuberantly replied with the smile of a young boy coming from of his heart. He, more than most people that day did not take this ride, and our freedom that we have to do a ride like this for granted. It made me feel the same, as I knew that he went through hell to be able to say that with such honest and genuine passion.

The ceremony was attended not only by the riders, but also by citizens of Kittanning who greeted us like family. The wreath was placed prominently at the designated gravesite among a sea of American flags. Words were spoken, thoughts were considered, and feelings conveyed … the healing kind.

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Sports Update:

The Penguins defeated the wily New York Rangers in overtime! The score was 3 to 2. They now will play their notorious cross state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, for the Eastern championship, and the right to fight for the Stanley Cup. Well-done Sid the Kid, and the hometown boys.

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Photos:
1. Laying of the Wreath
2. Rob, Iraq Vet. “Yea, Hell yea!”
3. Posting new flag.
4. Taps … a hauntingly eloquent rendition by bagpipes.

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This annual Honor Ride was put together by Rolling Thunder, Inc. Chapter 4 Pennsylvania. This is before Memorial Day so the local chapter can make the national event in Washington D.C. later in the month. There, they do a national protest of our the way our Government, in regard to the MIA and POW issues, have lingered ineffectively with other countries lack of cooperation in returning our dead servicemen and women for such a long time. Rolling Thunder has a website if you are interested in attending: http://www.rollingthunder1.com/

The protest has as an average attendance of 500,000 bikes! The attendees, and the Government who send VIPs every year to speak, take this annual protest very seriously.

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Keep your heads down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania