Update January 1, 2005 (Under Revision)

Chartered in 1997, Rolling Thunder® Kentucky Chapter 1 is a class 501 C-4 non-profit organization with over 60 members located throughout western Kentucky, central Tennessee, and southern Indiana.

Rolling Thunder® is not a motorcycle club, but uses motorcycles to draw attention to POW/MIA and other veterans' issues.

Kentucky Chapter 1

Donated $6000, in 2004, to the Disabled American Veteran’s (DAV) Transportation Services in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee to transport disabled veterans

Donated funds to help pay for care packages for service members in Iraq and to assist a legally blind disabled veteran attend limited vision training

Chapter veterans regularly speak at local area schools and other community gatherings about the honor of serving their country and educating the public about the POW/MIA issue

The organization supplies POW/MIA flags to courthouses, fire departments, post offices, veterans memorials, various organizations and interests groups, and organizes flag raising ceremonies promoting public awareness about the POW/MIA issue

In 2002, Kentucky Chapter 1 adopted the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY asking them what they needed to help meet the needs of the residents and enhance the service provided to the veterans

Santa and Kentucky Chapter 1 annually visit residents at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center, Hanson, KY and patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Marion, IL to deliver gifts of fruit from area merchants and Christmas cards from students

Prior to the opening of the veteran's center at Hanson, chapter members helped support the nursing home at Thomas-Hood Veterans Home, Wilmore, KY and the Veterans Hospital at Lexington, KY which continues to be supported by members of the three other Kentucky Rolling Thunder chapters

A motorcycle Poker Run (approx. 80 riders participated in 2004 raising over $1200) is held annually at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center to raise money for the residents which has been used to buy a computer, digital camera, scanner, printer, yard barn for storage of equipment, shaved ice (sno-cone) machine and wireless microphone and speaker system

The chapter sponsors an annual Poker Run at Atlas Van Lines Headquarters in Evansville, IN to raise money to help support veterans and veterans related organizations and interest groups, 2003 approximately 200 motorcycles participated raising over $3500

Donated $900 to the Glasgow, KY D.A.V. to help them offset the cost associated with providing military honors for veterans funerals, approximately 96 in 2003 at $69 per funeral

Donated $1500 to assist in supporting the cost of The Moving Wall visit to Clarksville, TN in November 2003 and 2004

Participates in numerous parades, toy runs, opening ceremonies, and other events to increase awareness of POW/MIA and veterans issues including setting up an information center at events to help keep the POW/MIA issue alive

Instrumental in helping the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club and other organizations raise funds for a 114 ft flag pole permanently installed at the Clarksville Fairgrounds for display of the National and POW/MIA Flags (November 2003)

Fund-Raising events include an annual Shotgun raffle (over $6500 to date) and other items donated for raffles providing money to support veterans and veterans related organizations

Participates in the annual memorial ceremony at the Colonial Charles Shelton Memorial (last Vietnam POW) in Owensboro, KY which also serves as the kick-off for the annual 3-day ride to the "Ride for Freedom" to Washington DC


Rolling Thunder National

In 2002, Rolling Thunder® National Chapter donated over $50,000 in financial support, food, clothing and other essentials to sanctioned veterans' groups, veterans and veterans' families in need, homeless veteran programs, women's' crisis centers, and toys for children

In 2002, Rolling Thunder® expended over $170,000 educating the public and increasing awareness about the POW/MIA issue and other injustices suffered by veterans from all wars, and to improve legislation that would rectify the POW/MIA situation and improve veterans' benefits from all wars

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

Over 4,000 hours were logged in by members of the Rolling Thunder® organization in the year 2002 at local VA hospitals around the country; members visited with and provided moral support to nursing home veterans, patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and homeless veterans

Rolling Thunder® veterans regularly speak to youth and parents of their communities at local area schools, ROTC programs, and other community gatherings about the honor of serving their country and educating them about the POW/MIA issue

The organization regularly donates POW/MIA flags to local schools, various organizations and interests groups, and organizes flag raising ceremonies promoting public awareness about the POW/MIA issue

Rolling Thunder® greatly facilitated 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® is on the Board of Directors of the Ride to the Wall Foundation, a veterans' fund established through the sales of the musical C.D., "Ride to the Wall," produced for Rolling Thunder XIV by the legendary Paul Revere and the Raiders in cooperation with Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Proceeds of the sale of the CD are donated to the Homeless Veterans foundation established by Miss America 2000 Heather French-Henry (presently the Second Lady of Kentucky).

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