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CNN Sunday Morning

Rolling Thunder Rally Gets Under Way

Aired May 25, 2003 - 11:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Harleys and honor. The Rolling Thunder Rally in Washington is representative of both. Each Memorial Day weekend, motorcyclists ride to the Vietnam veterans memorial on the national mall, and many other places, for that matter, in the nation's capital.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the 16th annual tribute. Among them, our own Patty Davis. She's there. How you doing, Patty?

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Everywhere you go in Washington, D.C. today, motorcycles. The rumble of motorcycles, some 250,000 of them, expected here in Washington, D.C. today. They call themselves Rolling Thunder. And that's named after a 1965 U.S. bombing campaign in Vietnam.

Now, today, though, that could also refer to the weather. We're expecting rain and thunder here in Washington, D.C. We're joined by Elaine Muller, one of the board of directors of this group. What's your purpose today with all of these bikers in town?

ELAINE MULLER, WIFE OF ROLLING THUNDER FOUNDER: Our purpose is to be here to demonstrate about the POW issue. A long-standing issue that has been neglected by our government. And 16 years ago, we came here with a small group of marchers and some motorcycles. Over three years, the marchers decreased and the bikes increased.

And we felt that Rolling Thunder should be the name because it's signified a battle in Vietnam, and these bikers come to support us every year and the numbers have just grown. We're bringing light to the POW issue and even one American left behind is too many.

DAVIS: Elaine, do you have any reason to believe that there is, or any evidence that there is an American prisoner of war still alive somewhere overseas?

MULLER: Most recently, Scott Speicher. That was our first war, in Gulf War. There's strong evidence that he is alive. Up to three weeks ago, we think he's alive. There was evidence in a prison cell with his initials. There's even other information, I believe, that he is alive.

DAVIS: I know the U.S. military says, though, that its leads are dwindling on that case. What about the weather today? Obviously, bad weather here today. MULLER: Doesn't make any difference. Rolling Thunder has had bad weather many of its events. It doesn't keep the spirit away or our goals.

Our supporters come from all over the country. They travel hundreds of miles. A little bad weather, once they're here, is not going to stop them, and we appreciate them coming.

DAVIS: Now, where's your Harley?

MULLER: My Harley is at the Pentagon parking lot where my husband is. He will be riding, I believe, Nancy Sinatra, today. Because I'm here working at the reflecting pool. Where -- they arrive here in Washington, we will have a program, and I'm at that end of the event today.

DAVIS: Excellent. Nancy Sinatra's, obviously, boots are made for walking, but she's on a motorcycle today. Thank you.

Elaine's husband, Artie Muller is one of the founders of this group. Very solemn here in Washington, as bikers walk by the Vietnam veteran's memorial, a very solemn occasion. But as Elaine said, expected to pick up here, because there will be a concert featuring Nancy Sinatra, Billy Ray Cyrus, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and others right here on the mall. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Speaking of boots, Patty, I hope you have your boots. I see your don't have your Harley gear on, so maybe you have the boots.

DAVIS: I'm about the only one without the Harley gear down here today.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot, Patty, from the Washington mall.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 25, 2003 - 11:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Harleys and honor. The Rolling Thunder Rally in Washington is representative of both. Each Memorial Day weekend, motorcyclists ride to the Vietnam veterans memorial on the national mall, and many other places, for that matter, in the nation's capital.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the 16th annual tribute. Among them, our own Patty Davis. She's there. How you doing, Patty?

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Everywhere you go in Washington, D.C. today, motorcycles. The rumble of motorcycles, some 250,000 of them, expected here in Washington, D.C. today. They call themselves Rolling Thunder. And that's named after a 1965 U.S. bombing campaign in Vietnam.

Now, today, though, that could also refer to the weather. We're expecting rain and thunder here in Washington, D.C. We're joined by Elaine Muller, one of the board of directors of this group. What's your purpose today with all of these bikers in town?

ELAINE MULLER, WIFE OF ROLLING THUNDER FOUNDER: Our purpose is to be here to demonstrate about the POW issue. A long-standing issue that has been neglected by our government. And 16 years ago, we came here with a small group of marchers and some motorcycles. Over three years, the marchers decreased and the bikes increased.

And we felt that Rolling Thunder should be the name because it's signified a battle in Vietnam, and these bikers come to support us every year and the numbers have just grown. We're bringing light to the POW issue and even one American left behind is too many.

DAVIS: Elaine, do you have any reason to believe that there is, or any evidence that there is an American prisoner of war still alive somewhere overseas?

MULLER: Most recently, Scott Speicher. That was our first war, in Gulf War. There's strong evidence that he is alive. Up to three weeks ago, we think he's alive. There was evidence in a prison cell with his initials. There's even other information, I believe, that he is alive.

DAVIS: I know the U.S. military says, though, that its leads are dwindling on that case. What about the weather today? Obviously, bad weather here today. MULLER: Doesn't make any difference. Rolling Thunder has had bad weather many of its events. It doesn't keep the spirit away or our goals.

Our supporters come from all over the country. They travel hundreds of miles. A little bad weather, once they're here, is not going to stop them, and we appreciate them coming.

DAVIS: Now, where's your Harley?

MULLER: My Harley is at the Pentagon parking lot where my husband is. He will be riding, I believe, Nancy Sinatra, today. Because I'm here working at the reflecting pool. Where -- they arrive here in Washington, we will have a program, and I'm at that end of the event today.

DAVIS: Excellent. Nancy Sinatra's, obviously, boots are made for walking, but she's on a motorcycle today. Thank you.

Elaine's husband, Artie Muller is one of the founders of this group. Very solemn here in Washington, as bikers walk by the Vietnam veteran's memorial, a very solemn occasion. But as Elaine said, expected to pick up here, because there will be a concert featuring Nancy Sinatra, Billy Ray Cyrus, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and others right here on the mall. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Speaking of boots, Patty, I hope you have your boots. I see your don't have your Harley gear on, so maybe you have the boots.

DAVIS: I'm about the only one without the Harley gear down here today.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot, Patty, from the Washington mall.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com