·         Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. is a class 501 (c)(4) non-profit organization with over 88 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad.  Our membership is comprised of veteran and non-veteran men and women from all wars and peace-time.  Although many of our members ride motorcycles, we are not a motorcycle club and a person does not have to own or ride a motorcycle to be a member.  They just need to have the time and willingness to be an advocate for our troops, veterans, and POW/MIA’s.  The name Rolling Thunder is derived from the constant bombing of North Vietnam in 1965 and was given the name, "Operation Rolling Thunder."  No officers or members of Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. receive compensation; we all donate our time.

VETERAN & COMMUNITY SERVICE 

·         In 2007, Rolling Thunder^® Charities, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  This status enables individuals and corporations to receive a tax deduction for funds donated to Rolling Thunder Charities.  These funds are used for veterans, active military and their families in need of help.  No officers of Rolling Thunder Charities, Inc. receive compensation; we all donate our time.

·         In 2005, Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. united with the National Alliance of POW/MIA Families to petition the U.S. Government to use the designation “Prisoner of War/Missing In Action” (POW/MIA) – a designation recognized by the Geneva Conventions - not “Missing/Captured” to ensure that prisoners’ rights and protections remain consistent under the Geneva Conventions.

·         We expend over $500,000 a year nationwide, educating the public and increasing awareness about the POW/MIA issue and other injustices suffered by veterans, and to improve legislation that would rectify the POW/MIA situation and improve veterans' benefits from all wars. The organization regularly donates POW/MIA flags to local area schools, youth groups, non-profit organizations and special interest groups, and organizes flag raising ceremonies promoting public awareness about the POW/MIA issue.

·         Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. sponsors search and retrieval missions into Southeast Asia for POW's, MIA's, and the remains of those killed in action.

·         Thousands of hours are logged in by Rolling Thunder members at local VA hospitals nationwide; members visit and provide moral support to nursing home veterans and patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  We also provide food, clothing and financial aid to homeless veterans.

·         Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. veterans often speak to youth groups about the honor of serving their country and educating them about the POW/MIA issue.

·         Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. helped facilitate the publishing of a POW/MIA U.S. postage stamp through the U.S. Postal Service that displayed dog tags with the declaration, "POW & MIA-NEVER FORGOTTEN."

·         Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. is on the Board of Directors of the Ride to the Wall Foundation, a veterans' fund established through the sales of the musical CD, "Ride to the Wall" produced for Rolling Thunder^® XIV by the legendary Paul Revere and the Raiders in cooperation with Rolling Thunder^®, Inc.

·         Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. participated in the dedication of the World War II Memorial in 2004 and assisted with organizing the World War II parade that took place on that historic date.

LEGISLATION

Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. has advocated and co-authored legislation on the POW/MIA issue and other veterans' concerns and interests as follows:

House Resolution 111

In 2007/2008 we continue to lobby Congress with more than 270 co-sponsors to establish a Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs.  The Committee would conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, WWII, Cold War Missions, or Gulf War, including POWs and MIAs.

Missing Service Personnel Act of 1997

Since the mid-1980's, Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. has worked tirelessly on this bill that would guarantee missing servicemen or women could not be arbitrarily "killed on paper" by the U.S. government without credible proof of death.  The bill was originally sponsored by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Colorado) in 1993.  Rolling Thunder^®, Inc.'s efforts helped facilitate passing of a majority of the resolutions, and efforts continue to restore the law as it was originally written.

Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000

Rolling Thunder^®, Inc. also co-authored the Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000, which was co-authored and sponsored by Senator Nighthorse-Campbell.  The Act provides for the granting of refugee status in the United States to nationals of certain foreign countries in which American Vietnam War POW/MIAs or American Korean War POW/MIAs may be present, if those nationals assist in returning POW/MIAs alive.

Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002, S.1339

First introduced by Campbell in August 2, 2001, the legislation amends the Bring Them Home Alive Act of 2000 which was signed into law in November of 2001. That law provides for the granting of refugee status in the United States to nationals of certain foreign countries in which American Vietnam POW/MIAs or American Korean War POW/MIAs may be present, if those nationals assist in returning POW/MIAs alive. The new law extends the granting of refugee status in the United States to nationals of Iraq or the greater Middle East region. It provides for the International Broadcasting Bureau, which includes the Voice of America, to broadcast information about the law in the Middle East.