I would like to thank you on behalf of all Rolling Thunder® Illinois Chapter 1 for visiting our website. There are many interesting links as well as photos and articles on some of our past and current activities such as our annual major fun raiser below.

BIG THUNDER RUN - 5 Oct 08
Batavia VFW
645 S. River Road (Rte 25)
Batavia. IL 60510
(just north of the intersection with IL Rte 56)
      
All our activities would not have happen if it were not for our Bike Raffle and Big Thunder Run which I encourage all of you to again support this year at the Batavia, IL VFW Hall on Rte. 25 just north of Rte 56 intersection on the east side of the Fox River.  The date of this event is always the first Sunday in October. This year the date will be 5 OCT 08.  We will again have live music, great food, Bike Show, Bike Raffle, many corporate sponsor booths, and The Remembrance Table Ceremony.  We hope to continue with your support to make this event for the Veterans one of the top events in our area.  We thank you for your past support. 

Thanks to those of you who have supported our fund raising efforts as because of you we have been allowed to donate thousands of dollars and partner with many groups all dedicated to helping the Veteran in need.  We have worked with the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, Illinois Freedom Run, VietNow - Proffitt Family Lunch program, many VFW Halls, Wounded Heroes Foundation, and others.  Many of us have ridden in support of another great group – The Patriot Guard. Our Chapter representatives had productive visits with Senator Durbin’s office, with Congressman Roskam, and with Tammy Duckworth, Director, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs. Over Memorial Day weekend many of us traveled to Washington D.C. and helped host Rolling Thunder® National’s 20th Anniversary Ride For Freedom XX.  We helped provide escort duty for the Gold Star and Blue Star Mothers plus other dignitaries.  Over 350,000 motorcycles joined us in proceeding down Constitutional Avenue in our demonstration ride and an estimated 500,000 more were in Washington D.C. in support.  

We have much more going on so please check our upcoming events and join us.
 
Finally, if our activities of bringing awareness to POW/MIA and Veteran issues point towards something you want to be involved with – please join us as our guest at our monthly meetings at the Warrenville, IL VFW Hall (just off Rte 56 on Mignin Dr.) every first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM.

PS. I would like to personally thank Howard “Weebles” Bushnell (Past President) for all of his hard work and support through the past years. Without Howard’s efforts as well as the efforts by many chapter members, it is certain that we would not be as successful in our mission to publicize POW-MIA issues: To educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action.

Thank you, 

Rolling Thunder ® Inc.  Illinois Chapter 1
Douglas E. Mahar
President
roofmedic@msn.com