Write John Kerry re-Bowe Bergdahl
The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is 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. My name is Bill Sharpness, President of the chapter. Our mission for the accountability of Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA) has not changed. We have a live Prisoner of War, Bowe Bergdahl, held in Afghanistan right now!! The United States has traded Russian spies for American spies and negotiated for hikers in Iran. What about Bowe? He’s been there since 2009. Call 202-224-3121 and leave a message for your U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator.
This is what Rolling Thunder® is all about. Not only bringing home Bowe, but finding out about all other POW/MIA’s from previous wars. We also help Veterans and we support other organizations that help Veterans. Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a non-profit organization. Members donate their time because they believe in the issues we are working on. RollingThunderIL1@gmail.com
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Thank you for visiting Rolling Thunder, Illinois Chapter One, from Warrenville, Illinois (west suburban Chicago).
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Click to download PDF fyler
Rolling Thunder IL1 Accomplishments in 2012
Thanks to you, the members of Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter One, we had a very good year in 2012. I thought I might take a minute to review some of our 2012 accomplishments.
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We established a new fundraiser that is not dependent upon having good weather. The membership completely sold out all the gun raffle tickets in just 93 days.
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We initiated a Bowe Bergdahl billboard campaign. Our billboard was the first in the nation. It has since gained national attention. Our fifth billboard is presently up in Springfield, IL. We have freely shared our billboard graphics with Rolling Thunder Chapters across the country.
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Activities we have funded this year are:
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A $24,000 Recumbent Bathing System for LaSalle Veterans Home. The system was installed several months ago and reports are that the staff and patients love it.
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We donated $6,000 to the Nicholas Larsen Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton.
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We donated $2,000 to The Ride Home, an organization at the civil war POW camp in Andersonville, GA and home of the National Prisoner of War Museum.
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We donated $2,000 to Task Force Omega. Task Force Omega keeps Bowe Bergdahl and the POW/MIA mission in the eyes and ears of the Washington, DC politicians. Task Force Omega is an organization dedicated to the full accounting and return of all prisoners of war and those missing in action.
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We donated $1,500 to the Manteno State Veterans Home in Manteno, IL.
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We successfully applied for a grant from a benefactor who prefers to remain anonymous. Our efforts were rewarded with a grant of $69,000 to benefit the resident veterans at the LaSalle Veterans Home, LaSalle, IL. (This is in addition to the $24,000 bathing system).
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We carried over the billboard graphics into a bumper sticker campaign that has distributed thousands of Bowe Bergdahl bumper stickers
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We conducted the 11th annual Big Thunder Run and motorcycle raffle to a successful event despite the chilly weather.
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We performed the Remembrance Table Ceremony on four occasions:
- The Cantigny Vet Fest
- The Big Thunder Run
- The Wheaton VFW
- The Glendale Heights VFW
- Our present structure allows 97½ cents from every fundraising dollar to be spent on the POW/MIA issue and assisting local veterans.
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Just in case you weren’t counting, that is $104,500 on local veterans and the POW/MIA issue.
So I want to congratulate the members and thank you all for making 2012 a very successful year.