President Bush walks with members of the Rolling Thunder on May 25 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.Rolling Thunder asks Bush to become a memberBy Christine Simmons - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday May 25, 2008 17:03:54 EDT
WASHINGTON — Members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycling group roared into town for a White House visit Sunday, where they presented President Bush with his own cowhide vest jacket and pushed for increased veterans benefits.
“Mr. President, we’d like to make you an honorary member of Rolling Thunder,” said Artie Muller, the group’s executive director, to a delighted Bush, who shed his suit jacket to don the vest and pose for pictures.
“You’ve done a lot for the country, and the troops appreciate you, and the veterans appreciate you, and your president appreciates you,” Bush told the group.
For 21 years, Rolling Thunder has led a “Ride for Freedom” along the National Mall during Memorial Day weekend, a full-throttle demonstration in support of soldiers held captive or missing in action. On Sunday, riders began at the Pentagon, rode across the Memorial Bridge and gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Rolling Thunder members also revved their engines up to the White House’s driveway along with several of the president’s aides. Bush, who was returning in his helicopter back from Camp David, greeted members near the South Lawn. Bush said “it was a magnificent sight” to see the thousands of motorcyclists come to the nation’s capital to pay tribute to veterans.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_rollingthunder_052508/