First Baptist Church of Herndon

Rolling Thunder

Linda Soller | Jun 03, 2019

It was already hot and humid at nine a.m. on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Despite the steamy weather, a group of us gathered on the sidewalk outside of First Baptist Church of Herndon to cheer and clap. We stood waiting, not so patiently, and then it came. The rolling thunder of 100 or so motorcycles rumbled up the hill from where they had collected in the middle of our town. Their destination was Washington, DC. 

Our little group were the early birds, those who came to set up and practice with the choir. But this was not about us. It had nothing to do with our opinions of the Vietnam War or of motorcycles, and everything to do with celebrating the service of those wheeling past us. We clapped, cheered, and whistled. They smiled, waved, revved engines, and honked horns. The riders were more old than young, with more men than women, and came with all tones of skin, all types of hair, all colors of eyes. Some sported traditional motorcycle garb while others looked like your uncle and aunt on a day’s ride to the park. They reflected our country. A mix of so much that is good about who we are as a people.

As I cheered and clapped, I found myself wrapped in the excitement of it all. It was bittersweet because we had heard this was the last year for the event. We stood watching them go down the road and out of site. It was the beginning of their journey on that day, but for many a culmination of a much bigger journey from a time passed.

There have always been wars, and despite the passion of each side and the results documented as history,our civilization marches forward. We can dwell on the results, we can bemoan the involvement, we can criticize the motives and leaders. We can even keep placing blame years later. It won’t change what happened. Or we can celebrate that humans are passionate caring beings who seem to feel the need to look out for others, even to the point of giving their lives. When we hear the rolling thunder we celebrate the heart and sacrifice of the warriors, not the war. 

This week love the people in your life! :o) Linda