May 31, 2004

President Bush, right, greets Gary Scheffmeyer, Vice President of Rolling Thunder upon their arrival at the South Portico of the White House Sunday, May 30, 2004. The leadership of Rolling Thunder, a motorcycling group which supports veterans, is backing President Bush's re-election. Left to right: Sydney Revere, Diane Evans, Preston Fairlamb, and Mike Lonetto, Scheffmeyer and Bush.


Bush Revved Up Over Biker SupportMembers of the Rolling Thunder motorcycling group revved their engines on the White House driveway Sunday during a visit with President Bush, who took about 10 bikers in jeans and leather jackets for an Oval Office tour.
[Wonder if President Bush showed them Saddam's gun? Betcha he did!--Jen]

The roar from bikers on the Mall nearby could be heard on the South Lawn as eight motorcycles, headlights illuminated and American flags jutting off the rear seats, rolled up the driveway to the South Portico where Bush was waiting to greet them.

Bush shook hands with Artie Muller, president of the veterans' advocacy group, and kissed Muller's rider, singer Nancy Sinatra, a veterans' supporter, who was dressed in a skirt, cowboy boots and a pair of dark shades.

Later, Bush addressed, via a telephone hookup, a Rolling Thunder rally at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in the capital.

The president noted the letter of endorsement he received from the group last week. "Artie, I thought you were going to offer me riding lessons," Bush joked, thanking Rolling Thunder for backing his re-election campaign.

"Ride safe," he told them.

Other bikers who rode up the driveway included White House budget director Josh Bolton, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, and various Rolling Thunder leaders.
[...]
For the past 15 years, the group has announced its arrival with the roar of motorcycles -- not unlike the sound of the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam that was called Operation Rolling Thunder.

Rolling Thunder is an organization that seeks to create awareness of POW/MIA issues and promotes increased veterans' benefits. It has 70 chapters and over 7,000 members throughout the United States and abroad.

"In the Oval Office, I looked you in the eye as you told me of your relentless pursuit of finding out the plight of many of our POW/MIAs, and I appreciated so much your concern, your care and your persistence," Bush told the rally. "I also want to thank you and your organization, Artie, for honoring the men and women of our military who fight today in Afghanistan and Iraq."

[...]
Gary Scheffmeyer, vice president of Rolling Thunder, said the president showed the group around his office, pointing out busts of presidents and paintings. Scheffmeyer said they talked about the war in Iraq, the fight against terrorism, veterans' health benefits and soldiers still missing from Vietnam.
Boy, has President Bush been busy!
There were the WWII vets and the dedication of their beautiful memorial yesterday, the Vietnam vets on Sunday and today he spoke at Arlington Cemetery and marked the ultimate sacrifice given by our service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It's sad to think that there are so many who've given their lives for our country and for Freedom, but we stand today a grateful nation and if we're not united (yet), we're getting there and one of the things that helps that along the most is having a Commander-in-Chief like George W. Bush who respects and honors the military and our veterans for all that they do and have done.
May God rest the souls of those who gave the "last full measure of devotion" and may God continue to bless America!