Rolling Thunder Plans Sallisaw Stop On May 23

[totalmotorcycle]

Rolling Thunder Plans Sallisaw Stop On May 23
By Sally Maxwell, Managing Editor April 27, 2005






George Day of Gans leaves Thursday to join Rolling Thunder "Operation Carry the Flame," a motorcycle ride which honors those who served and died while serving in U.S. military forces, and those still listed as missing in action (MIA) and prisoners of war (POW).

Day said this week that the motorcycle caravan will travel through Sequoyah County on the way from Alameda, Calif., to Washington, D.C., in time for Memorial Day. Day said, "Operation Carry the Flame will launch its annual journey from the deck of the USS Hornet in Alameda, Calif., where it will light a ceremonial flame honoring Blue Star and Gold Star Mothers."

Blue Star Mothers are those who children are serving in the military forces. Gold Star Mothers are those who lost children in the military services during a war.

Day said Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4518 in Sallisaw will host the motorcycle riders for lunch on May 23.

"The group will join over 300,000 other motorcyclists in Rolling Thunder's 'Ride for Freedom XVIII' on Memorial Day weekend," Day said. "The demonstration is to raise awareness and show support for POW-MIA issues."

When the riders stop at VFW Post 4518 they will be joined by Jean Burlingame of New York State, president of Blue Star Mothers. The organization will be holding a convention in Oklahoma City that week, and Burlingame's intentions are to join the motorcycle ride to Muldrow.


Day said that when the group visits in Sallisaw, "A ceremony, including the lighting of the torch, will be held at noon and a barbecue lunch will follow. The public is invited, and this event will benefit Blue Star Mothers of America Inc."

The lunch will be $5 per person.

Day said, "Area motorcyclists are encouraged to meet the group and join in the ride from El Reno to Conway, Ark., on May 23."

For more information on how to join the ride, call (918) 774-0856. More information on Operation Carry the Flame, Rolling Thunder, and the Blue Star and Gold Star Mother groups is available on the Web site at www.carrytheflame.org.

Day is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served with the U.S. Naval Construction Force, at one time known as the construction battalion, and still known as the Seabees.