ALR Run To The Thunder Weekend 2017

May 26-28

Washington, DC 

Click HERE to Register! 

A number of great events are planned for American Legion Riders over Memorial Day Weekend.  American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax, VA will again serve as your host Post, and as your hub for many activities throughout the Memorial Day Weekend.  

We will also host some special and honored guests, and a number of Gold Star families will ride with us throughout the weekend.

On Sunday, the morning of Rolling Thunder, the ALR will depart Post 177 early, and link up with another major group of riders called "The Ride of the Patriots", approximately 5 miles from the Post.

Our ALR will be able to ride as an organized body within this group of approximately 4,000 motorcycles, and we'll have a full police escort to a good location in the Pentagon North Parking lot.

We will be able to expose many more thousands of riders and onlookers to the American Legion Riders!  

Our goal is to ride as an organized and respectful body, representing the American Legion.

Here is the plan for 2017:

SITUATION:

Since 2012, our inaugural year, over 1500 American Legion Riders have joined to ride together as an organized body to the Annual Rolling Thunder demonstration in Washington DC.  We anticipate many hundreds more in 2017!

ALR members fully support the mission of Rolling Thunder Inc: to publicize POW-MIA issues, to protect future Veterans, and to help American Veterans from all wars.

Memorial Day Weekend 2017 (May 26-28) is the date for Rolling Thunder Weekend, and for many patriotic and veteran-themed events throughout the Washington DC area.

MISSION:

ALR members gather from across the Nation in Washington DC to participate in events throughout the weekend and to share in the camaraderie of the American Legion Riders.  Our weekend culminates in gathering as an organized group at Fairfax Virginia Post 177 on Sunday morning, 28 May, to proudly ride together as American Legion Riders to demonstrate our unity and patriotism in support of the Rolling Thunder demonstration.  

EXECUTION:

 - Thursday, May 25: 

• Post 177 sets up to receive American Legion Riders.  Limited food items available for dinner.  
• Post Social Quarters open until 11 pm.

- Friday, May 26: 

• 8:00 am: Post 177 Open for breakfast
• 9:00 am: Registration & Check-in opens.
• Noon: American Legion Emblem Sales opens. Open all day.
• Noon: Social Quarters open for lunch. Open until 11 pm.
• Noon: Vendors and social tent open in Post 177 Parking Lots.
• 4:30 pm: POW Ceremony in Post 177 ballroom.
• 5:00 pm: "Friday Night Dinner" until 7 pm.
• 7:30 pm: Organized National Poppy Day™ themed motorcycle ride to Candlelight Vigil at Vietnam Memorial in DC. Safety Briefing at 7 pm. 

- Saturday May 27: 

• 8:00 am: Buffet Breakfast at Post 177.
• 8:00 am: Registration & Check-in opens - all day.
• 8:00 am: American Legion Emblem Sales open - all day.
• 9:00 am: Post 177 OPEN HOUSE (Food, tent, vendors) - all day.  Seamstress on site.
• 9:00 am: "Bike Blessings" courtesy of "Brothers in Christ"
• 11:00 am: Group ride departs from Post 177 to Arlington National Cemetery for wreath-laying ceremony by ALR National at the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns. This will be a special ALR-run ceremony near the "Arlington House."   
• Charter Bus available for non-riders.
• 1:00: Actual time of the Wreath-laying at Arlington.  

**NOTE: If you plan to join us at Arlington for the wreath-laying (and not ride there with us), please make sure you go to the Arlington House - also called the Lee Mansion, NOT the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.  Our ceremony is near the Arlington House at the original Tomb of the Unknowns, called the "Civil War Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers."

• 3:00: Barbecue at Post 177.  Until 6:00 pm. 
  
• 4:00 to 7:00 pm:   Live Music.  The Classic Spotlight Band!

- Sunday May 28:

• 5:00 am: Last-minute Registration & Check-in.
• 5 - 6:15 am: Motorcycle line-up at Post 177.  Follow guides.
• 4:30 - 6 am: Buffet Breakfast  
• 5-6:00 am: Last opportunity to visit American Legion Emblem Sales.
• 6:30 am: ALR departs for Run To The Thunder 2017!
• 3:00 pm: After-event barbecue at Post 1976, Annandale, VA. 

Movement Guidance:

• American Legion Riders will proceed under police escort to join "The Ride of the Patriots" (ROP), approximately 5 miles away.
• All ALR bikes will require special markers (issued to you at Registration). 
• The ALR rides as a group within ROP into Washington DC in support of Rolling Thunder.
• Helmets are required to ride as an American Legion Rider. 
• Please wear your vests and ALR markings.  It makes it easier to ID our own riders.
• Once "Rolling Thunder" begins and we leave the Pentagon parking lot, we would like to open up into a formation that is 4-bikes wide, once we start to cross the Memorial Bridge into DC.  Our goal is to present a solid formation of ALR riders, moving under control in formation.  Parade-style.  Most riders go blasting down Constitution Avenue.  We'd like to do it with respect and control.  4-wide.
• The ride ends when we enter the assembly area at the end of the parade.  You are on your own to enjoy the concert, Thunder Alley, food, the sights, etc!

Pentagon Parking Lot Comments

It's the focus of questions every year.  There are no guarantees. We think that joining The Ride of the Patriots will enable us to get much better lineup locations within the Pentagon North Parking.

We'll do our best to get into North Parking, but wherever we wind up, we'll stay together.  Plan for the worst situation.  Bring your own water and snacks.   Bring something for shade, if you are imaginative.  For the past few years, the weather has been wonderful! And a year before, 90s!  Sometimes, the better prepared you are, the less you need it!  

The goal is to ride proudly as American Legion Riders.

SERVICE SUPPORT:

REGISTRATION is OPEN.  Click the link above or below. 

**CAMPING OPTIONS**

Camping options are still being explored and more info will be made available when known on the www.ALRRollingThunder.com website.  We are looking for everything from primitive camping options to full RV parking.

• HOTELS: See page to search for local hotels near Fairfax Post 177.
• Check out the other American Legion Posts in the Washington DC area.
• There are many motorcycle and veteran-related activities in the DC area all weekend.
• A buffet breakfast available at Post 177 on Sunday morning from 0430 to 0600 hrs.
• There is only limited water & refreshments available in Pentagon parking lots.  Please BRING YOUR OWN WATER AND SNACKS.  Be prepared for the unexpected.  It can be HOT and dry in the Pentagon parking lots, and the wait can be hours long before we move.
• We need VOLUNTEERS to help with parking lot control, and for Road Captains.  Please let us know if you can help when you register.

COMMAND & SIGNAL:
 Observe parking lot control volunteers and measures on Sunday morning.  We have use of the Paul VI High School parking lot (next to Post 177) as well as the Post lot.

• CB radio channel will be 8.
• See links page for email and emergency contact information
• 
  
• TWITTER information: @ALRRollingThund
• FACEBOOK site: 
• http://www.facebook.com/AlrRunToTheThunder

NOTE:

Check out what is going on all weekend at an American Legion Post near where you are staying.  The host American Legion Post, Post 177 in Fairfax will have the Legion Emblem Sales in the building on Friday and Saturday, plus an Open House all day Saturday with a barbecue, vendors, and seamstress available.

Register Now!