Patriot Chopper makes debut ride during Rolling Thunder

ARLINGTON, Va. – Although “Rolling Thunder” may be the name of a stirring circus march, for many those two words bring to mind the revving of a half-million motorcycle engines.

Every Memorial Day for the past 21 years, bikers from all over the country have traveled to the nation’s capital for a one-mile trip from the Pentagon to the National Mall. Event organizers call it Rolling Thunder because of the sound made by thousands of motorcycles crossing Memorial Bridge into the District of Columbia. The event’s main focus is to publicize American servicemembers who are prisoners of war and those who are still listed as missing in action.

This year, the National Guard’s Patriot Chopper made its maiden voyage, ridden by Maj. Gen. James Nuttall, deputy director of the Army National Guard, at the front of the Rolling Thunder ride.

Although the Patriot Chopper is mostly used for recruiting purposes and to draw attention to the National Guard, Nuttall pointed out its equally important purpose: “We use it to demonstrate that you can ride a cool motorcycle and still be safe,” he said.

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