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Rolling Thunder Riders Pay Tribute to Veterans and MIA with Memorial Day Ride

THIS YEAR, EVENTS ARE SET TO TAKE PLACE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. THIS WEEKEND, MILLIONS OF FLAGS ARE WAVING ACROSS THE NATION TO HONOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FOUGHT AND GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY DAILY. ON THE GULF COAST, CEREMONIES AND EVENTS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ALL WEEKEND, INCLUDING ONE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. MADISON ZALESKI IS IN GORDA TONIGHT, WHERE SHE MET WITH ROLLING THUNDER OF FLORIDA AS THEY HELD THEIR THUNDER RIDE FOR FREEDOM. >> A ROLL OF THUNDER CAN BE A DISTURBING SOUND, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT REPRESENTS SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM. MEMBERS OF ROLLING THUNDER, AN ADVOCACY GROUP FOR PRISONERS OF WAR AND THOSE MISSING IN ACTION, CAME TOGETHER ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TO THANK ALL WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED. >> “I HAVE A MISSING COUSIN, AND THAT’S THE FOCUS OF ROLLING THUNDER, ALONG WITH HELPING VETERANS IN NEED.” >> ROLLING THUNDER WAS FOUNDED 37 YEARS AGO AS A PROTEST IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AIMING TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE MILITARY AND REMIND CONGRESS. >> “IT APPEARS THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE NEED FOR THOSE WHO ARE MISSING TO COME HOME FIRST,” ED SAID. OVER 1,200 BIKES, INCLUDING 300 BIKERS, RODE FROM LASHLEY PARK IN GORDA TO BERT’S BLACK WIDOW HARLEY-DAVIDSON ON SUNDAY MORNING. RIDERS HOPE THIS WILL ONE DAY PROVIDE RELIEF TO FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN. 82,000 STILL REMAIN MISSING IN ACTION SINCE WORLD WAR I. >> “ONE OF THE MAIN EVENTS WE DO IS TO SUPPORT GROUPS GOING BACK IN COUNTRY TO NORTH AFRICA, EUROPE, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA TO LOCATE REMAINS, CONDUCT DNA TESTING, AND BRING THEM HOME.”

Rolling Thunder riders honor veterans and MIA with Memorial Day ride

Over 300 bikers and members of Rolling Thunder rode from Laishley Park in Punta Gorda to Bert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson on Sunday morning.

A roll of thunder can be a frightening sound, but it signifies support for those who served and sacrificed. Members of Rolling Thunder, an advocacy group for prisoners of war and those missing in action, gathered for Memorial Day weekend to express gratitude to all veterans. Dr. Lance Armstrong stated, “Because I have a missing cousin, that’s the focus of Rolling Thunder, along with helping veterans in need.” Founded 37 years ago as a protest ride in Washington D.C., Rolling Thunder aims to show support for the military. “To remind Congress, P.O.W.s and M.I.A.s must come home first,” remarked Carl Steinhoff, chairman of Rolling Thunder, Chapter 5. More than 300 bikers rode from Laishley Park in Punta Gorda to Bert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson on Sunday morning. Riders hope this effort will one day bring relief to families of the fallen.

“Currently, we have 82,000 still missing in action since World War I. Rolling Thunder is one of the key events we do to support groups traveling back to countries like North Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia to locate remains, conduct DNA testing, and reunite them with their families,” Steinhoff explained.

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Harley Davidson News

Music Icons Pay Tribute at DJ’s Funeral

Music Icons Pay Tribute at DJ’s Funeral
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Harley Davidson News

Led Zeppelin Vocalist and Radio 2 Host Pay Their Respects at Johnnie Walker’s Funeral

Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin, along with Johnnie Walker’s former colleagues from BBC Radio 2, came together to honor the late DJ at his funeral in Shaftesbury.

Walker passed away at the age of 79 in December, with the announcement of his death made on New Year’s Eve by Bob Harris, who took over hosting Walker’s Sounds Of The 70s show in November.

For the past three decades, he lived with his wife Tiggy in a 17th-century farmhouse in the north Dorset town, where he also broadcast his beloved radio show.

Harley Davidson riders gather behind the hearse to take part in a tribute following the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter's Church in ShaftesburyHarley Davidson riders gather behind the hearse to take part in a tribute following the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury (Image: Andrew Matthews) The funeral service took place at St Peter’s Church, where Walker’s wife Tiggy, clad in pink, and other friends and loved ones, witnessed the procession of Harley Davidson riders paying respects to the DJ’s hearse.

An enthusiastic rider of American motorcycles, Walker was honored with a “ride of honour” by fellow bikers, a tradition for deceased riders.

Among those in attendance were Simon Mayo, who spent nearly twenty years with BBC Radio 2 before leaving in 2018, along with radio luminaries Bob Harris, Jeremy Vine, and Tony Blackburn.

Robert Plant arrives at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter's Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Mr Walker, who hosted BBC Radio 2's Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show, died on 31 December, aged 79.Robert Plant arrives at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Mr Walker, who hosted BBC Radio 2’s Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show, died on 31 December, aged 79. (Image: Andrew Matthews)

Dressed in black and dark blue, Plant had previously praised Walker in December, describing him as “a defender and gatekeeper of great musical taste, a cool, kind man who kept the bar high for all of us who loved him.”

Walker had retired due to health issues, stepping away from his Radio 2 show The Rock Show last October after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Also in attendance were BBC and ITV sports presenter John Inverdale, former BBC presenter Suzi Perry, radio host Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley, and actress Pippa Haywood from Green Wing.

Jeremy Vine arrives at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter's Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset.Jeremy Vine arrives at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset. (Image: Andrew Matthews) The keyboardist Rick Wakeman expressed his pride on X this Thursday for being asked by Tiggy, Walker’s wife, who supported him during his illness and assisted in producing his radio show from home, to perform at the service.

He delivered a heartfelt rendition of his song Gone But Not Forgotten, a piece he also shared at the memorial for the former Countdown host Richard Whiteley.

(Image: Andrew Matthews)

On December 31, Tiggy Walker paid tribute to her late husband, remarking that he remained his “charming, humorous self to the end”, and expressed, “bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace”.

The illness that Walker suffered from, IPF, leads to lung scarring and progressively worsening breathing difficulties. According to the NHS, there is “currently no treatment” that can halt or reverse this condition.