Neel Mehta
Rolling Thunder is set to rumble through Washington D.C., for the 24th time this Memorial Day weekend. The annual event recognizes those who have served and calls attention to POWs and MIAs.
More than 250,000 are expected to attend the rally May 27-29. The event begins Friday evening with a candlelight vigil held at the Vietnam Wall scheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday“™s Salute to the Troops program will be held at the stage between the Reflecting Pool and the Korean memorial from noon to 3 p.m.
The rally“™s renowned run takes place Sunday. The route begins at the North Pentagon Parking Lot at noon, crosses the Arlington Memorial Bridge and runs around the National Mall.
Scheduled to appear Sunday onstage are Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of POW and MIA Personnel Office Norman Kass and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, former commander of the USS Cole.
Lynn O’Shea, director of research for the National Alliance of Families for the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen, and veteran’s advocate Nikki Mendicino are also scheduled to appear.
The rally will play host to music from Nancy Sinatra, Gordon Painter, the Loch Rannoch Pipes and Drums Band, Kelly Trudell, the Southern Fried Musicians and 4TROOPS.
