5 bikers to join cross-country salute to Vietnam veterans'
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05-07-2006, 01:24 PM
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5 bikers to join cross-country salute to Vietnam veterans'
If you haven't been to the wall in D.C. I would recommend it to everyone. These guy's went through hell and got the short end of the stick when they returned home.
5 bikers to join cross-country salute to Vietnam veterans', event winds up in Washington May 28.
Sunday, May 7, 2006
BY JOHN MCKENNA
WATERBURY -- The Harley-Davidsons and patriotism of five members of the Rat Pack Motorcycle Club are tuned up and ready for a 3,000-mile journey that begins in California next week and will end at a massive show of support for Vietnam veterans, POWs and MIAs in Washington, D.C., Memorial Day weekend.
More than 500,000 motorcycles will converge on Washington for the 18th annual Rolling Thunder Run for the Wall parade from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on May 28. Among them will be Rat Pack members Karl Kasfeldt of Seymour, Bob Lavoie of Litchfield, Vinnie Mirabilio of Bethlehem, Butch Kerr of Glastonbury and Bart DiCrosta of Harwinton.
The five motorcyclists and thousands of other bikers will hit the road May 17 in Ontario, Calif., and follow a planned 10-day route through the southern U.S. that will take them to Washington. Along the way they will stop at veterans' memorials, Veterans' Administration hospitals, and American Legion and VFW posts.
"It is the most patriotic thing we can do to show our respect for Vietnam veterans," Lavoie said. "They didn't get respect when they came home from the war, but they're getting it now. It's never too late to show appreciation."
Lavoie and his fellow riders have participated in the Washington parade for several years, but this is the first time they are making the cross-country trip. Their motorcycles are being shipped by train to California and they'll be flying out next week. In Washington, they will meet up with 13 other members of the Rat Pack club, which is headquartered at Riders Cafe on Thomaston Avenue.
Kasfeldt, Mirabilio and Kerr are veterans of the Vietnam War, with Kasfeldt and Kerr having served in the Army and Mirabilio the Air Force. None saw combat during the war but they did experience the pain of losing friends and the wrath of the American public after the war ended.
"We didn't get any recognition when we came home, certainly not like the soldiers who are coming home from Iraq," he said. "That's what makes the trip we are going to be taking and the parade in Washington so incredible. There will be people coming up to me and other veterans and thanking us for the service we gave more than 30 years ago. It will be a cleansing for many of us."
Kerr, who spent his two years building floating bridges for troop use in Vietnam, said the parade makes up for the lack of respect at the close of the war. "You're riding down the street with half-a-million bikers and you're a hero to everyone standing there watching," he said.
Kasfeldt, who was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War, said he had tears in his eyes last year as the parade moved along Constitution Avenue toward an emotional conclusion at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
"It means a lot to be with so many guys who served and to hear their stories," Kasfeldt said. "The experience also helps you appreciate the life you have."
Lavoie was 18 when the Vietnam draft ended and wasn't called to serve. His experience in Washington the past six years, he said, has given him a greater appreciation for veterans.
"Imagine coming back from fighting in a war and having no one say thank you," Lavoie said. "Those two words were all they needed to hear to know that they did what their country and government told them was right."
At noon on May 28, Lavoie and his comrades will start their Harleys and slowly rumble out of the Pentagon parking lot with the rest of the bikers. It will take them a few hours to reach the Vietnam memorial. "It's a very emotional time when you get to the wall," Lavoie said. "Almost everyone k
5 bikers to join cross-country salute to Vietnam veterans', event winds up in Washington May 28.
Sunday, May 7, 2006
BY JOHN MCKENNA
WATERBURY -- The Harley-Davidsons and patriotism of five members of the Rat Pack Motorcycle Club are tuned up and ready for a 3,000-mile journey that begins in California next week and will end at a massive show of support for Vietnam veterans, POWs and MIAs in Washington, D.C., Memorial Day weekend.
More than 500,000 motorcycles will converge on Washington for the 18th annual Rolling Thunder Run for the Wall parade from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on May 28. Among them will be Rat Pack members Karl Kasfeldt of Seymour, Bob Lavoie of Litchfield, Vinnie Mirabilio of Bethlehem, Butch Kerr of Glastonbury and Bart DiCrosta of Harwinton.
The five motorcyclists and thousands of other bikers will hit the road May 17 in Ontario, Calif., and follow a planned 10-day route through the southern U.S. that will take them to Washington. Along the way they will stop at veterans' memorials, Veterans' Administration hospitals, and American Legion and VFW posts.
"It is the most patriotic thing we can do to show our respect for Vietnam veterans," Lavoie said. "They didn't get respect when they came home from the war, but they're getting it now. It's never too late to show appreciation."
Lavoie and his fellow riders have participated in the Washington parade for several years, but this is the first time they are making the cross-country trip. Their motorcycles are being shipped by train to California and they'll be flying out next week. In Washington, they will meet up with 13 other members of the Rat Pack club, which is headquartered at Riders Cafe on Thomaston Avenue.
Kasfeldt, Mirabilio and Kerr are veterans of the Vietnam War, with Kasfeldt and Kerr having served in the Army and Mirabilio the Air Force. None saw combat during the war but they did experience the pain of losing friends and the wrath of the American public after the war ended.
"We didn't get any recognition when we came home, certainly not like the soldiers who are coming home from Iraq," he said. "That's what makes the trip we are going to be taking and the parade in Washington so incredible. There will be people coming up to me and other veterans and thanking us for the service we gave more than 30 years ago. It will be a cleansing for many of us."
Kerr, who spent his two years building floating bridges for troop use in Vietnam, said the parade makes up for the lack of respect at the close of the war. "You're riding down the street with half-a-million bikers and you're a hero to everyone standing there watching," he said.
Kasfeldt, who was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War, said he had tears in his eyes last year as the parade moved along Constitution Avenue toward an emotional conclusion at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
"It means a lot to be with so many guys who served and to hear their stories," Kasfeldt said. "The experience also helps you appreciate the life you have."
Lavoie was 18 when the Vietnam draft ended and wasn't called to serve. His experience in Washington the past six years, he said, has given him a greater appreciation for veterans.
"Imagine coming back from fighting in a war and having no one say thank you," Lavoie said. "Those two words were all they needed to hear to know that they did what their country and government told them was right."
At noon on May 28, Lavoie and his comrades will start their Harleys and slowly rumble out of the Pentagon parking lot with the rest of the bikers. It will take them a few hours to reach the Vietnam memorial. "It's a very emotional time when you get to the wall," Lavoie said. "Almost everyone k
#2
05-07-2006, 02:29 PM
RE: 5 bikers to join cross-country salute to Vietnam veterans'
This is nothing new! Run for the Wall has been organizing the sdame ride for over a decade. IT is well planned and routed, well supported, a the largets pack run in the world.
I have made this run six times...encourage everyone to check them out and check out the route...perhaps you can make a leg of it.
www.rftw.org
I have made this run six times...encourage everyone to check them out and check out the route...perhaps you can make a leg of it.
www.rftw.org
