Motorcyclists to depart for DC National POW, MIA event

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – 100 motorcyclists will hit the road Thursday morning from Indianapolis to our nation’s Capitol.

It’s all part of a national prisoner of war and missing in action event.

The group that is doing it is called Rolling Thunder. When they get to Washington D.C. they’ll be meeting bikers from across the country.

They want to raise awareness for prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

“All of the members of Rolling Thunder, we are the voice of POWs and MIAs, for those who have not come home. They don’t have a voice over there, you know, Southeast Asia, Germany, different places like that. Different wars. Every war that America’s been in, they need a voice and we are that voice for them,” Rolling Thunder member Eddie Rutledge said.

They said there are still 1,500 Indiana soldiers who are unaccounted for since World War II.

“I can’t think of any other better way to spend my time then to provide service and assistance to our veterans because they deserve what they can get,” Rolling Thunder President Mike Clark said.

Before they leave, they will be attending a departing ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial. The ceremony starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be several speakers, including Governor Mike Pence. There will also be a roll call and a balloon release.

In addition to the departing ceremony, there will be a dedication for a POW, MIA Chair of Honor. It will be placed in the lobby of the Indiana War Memorial Museum as a way to remind visitors that there are still thousands of soldiers missing in action.