The Rolling to Remember event is a tradition in D.C. where thousands of bikers converge to honor those who have sacrificed for our freedom. This event almost didn’t happen this year because the group was denied a permit in D.C. for a staging area at the Pentagon (see below).

“The biggest disappointment in the Pentagon’s denial was that AMVETS was ignored for months as its professional staff in Washington requested numerous times an opportunity to hear the Defense Department’s concerns and present a safety plan.” – Jan Brown, the national commander of AMVETS.

After the group was finally given a permit in D.C. for the staging area, the national executive director of AMVETS says turnout should be even greater this year.

There will be a sea of thousands of motorcycles for the Rolling to Remember event, formerly Rolling Thunder. The event raises awareness for 80,000+ unaccounted-for POW/MIAs and the national veteran suicide crisis.

The event video is live below and is set to begin at 12 p.m. EST:

OUR PREVIOUS REPORT ON THE CANCELLATION OF ROLLING TO REMEMBER:

For 32 years, American Veterans met at the Pentagon on Memorial Day weekend as part of their Rolling to Remember rally.  But, as with almost every other American tradition, the Biden Regime has canceled this one as well, refusing to give the officially chartered organization that represents over 20 million American Veterans a parking permit.

Chester Sims, from St. Augustine, Fla., helps direct motorcyclists as they participate in the 32nd Rolling Thunder demonstration, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Washington. The event is to honor American prisoners of war and service members missing in action and to call attention to veterans’ issues. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers salutes as motorcyclists participate in the 32nd Rolling Thunder demonstration, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Washington. The event is to honor American prisoners of war and service members missing in action, and to call attention to veterans’ issues. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The DOD cited completely unscientific “Covid” worries, especially since social distancing and mask use have been determined by studies to be ineffective against influenza in numerous studies–especially outdoors.

And, while the DOD is snubbing AmVets, DC is opening museums and the National Zoo in May despite any CCP Virus worries.

This has forced AmVets to seek an alternate location at RFK stadium and led many to question the behavior of the Biden Regime which continues to label conservatives and Trump supporters as white supremacists and domestic terrorists.

7 News Reports

Two weeks ago, the 7News I-Team reported the U.S. Defense Department was holding up what seems to be a simple decision to allow or deny thousands of military veterans to use its parking lot for a staging area for Rolling To Remember.

It’s the same parking lot the huge event has been using for the past 32 years.

“…We have not heard from the Pentagon from the day you called them the first time,” said Joe Chenelly the National Executive Director of AmVets. “That’s been a few weeks now.

The Pentagon continues to decline the I-Team’s request for an on-camera interview. It did admit it revoked a parking permit for AmVets after approving it in March.

The Pentagon’s denial comes on the heels of the Smithsonian announcing last week that it will reopen eight of its facilities to the public in May, starting with the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly on Wednesday, May 5.

Additional museums and the National Zoo will open Friday, May 14, and Friday, May 21. 

But, the AmVets are not giving up despite the Biden Regime shrugging them off.  They intend to find new venues in multiple locations, which will likely cause more traffic issues.

I-Team Reporter Scott Taylor asked: “These military vets are coming to Washington, D.C. regardless if the Pentagon participates or not, correct?”

“You are absolutely right,” said Chenelly. “We are seeing it on websites and social media all over the place. Much smaller groups. They’re planning their own smaller rallying points and they’re coming in.”

Which means a potential traffic nightmare for the District. Multiple staging areas all over the DMV before thousands of veterans on motorcycles head over to the National Mall.

AmVets says it has a plan B and is working to move its main staging area to RFK Stadium instead of the Pentagon.

“It’s very disappointing and for our members,” said Chenelly. “There’s been shock and deep disappointment expressed to us.”

“ROLLING TO REMEMBER IS BACK ON!”

The Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride, now known as Rolling to Remember, is back on! The ride has traditionally begun at the Pentagon parking lot, but the permit was supposedly denied because of the coronavirus. Controversy surrounded the decision to deny a permit:

The group criticized the Pentagon’s slow decision-making process because the application was submitted last July. The Pentagon slow-walked a decision until they were pressured to respond to the request.

This left the AMVETS without a meeting spot just weeks before tens of thousands of motorcyclists are scheduled to participate in the traditional event. The ride is meant to honor the service members missing in action or being held as prisoners of wars and raise awareness about veteran suicide.

New organizers for the huge motorcycle ride through D.C. have announced it will start at RFK Stadium in northeast Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day weekend. This was after the Defense Department denied the group’s request to kick off the event at the Pentagon. A spokesperson explained how difficult it has been to switch gears and change locations for the motorcycle ride that attracts thousands each year:

“It has been incredibly difficult — well beyond anything any of us, I think, could’ve comprehended… We are now putting together what would normally take a year; we’re getting it together in about two weeks.”

Military.com reports that bikers registered to participate in the AMVETS Rolling to Remember ride can gather in the Washington Football Team’s former stadium parking lot at 7 a.m. May 30, the group announced this week.

The Rolling to Remember website says riders will now gather in Lot 8 of the RFK Stadium parking lot. Motorcyclists are encouraged to follow distancing guidance due to the pandemic by leaving space between rows of bikes.

RFK Stadium is about 2 miles east of the U.S. Capitol.

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