Mission Statement
The major function of Rolling Thunder®,
Inc. is to publicize the POW-MIA issue: To educate the public that many
American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars and
to help correct the past and to protect the future Veterans from being
left behind should they become Prisoners Of War-Missing In Action. We
are committed to helping American Veterans from all wars. Rolling
Thunder®, Inc. is a non-profit organization and everyone donates his or
her time because they believe in the POW/MIA Issue that we are working
on.
In 2007, Rolling Thunder® Charities, Inc.
was established as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit organization
which 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.
Rolling Thunder®, Inc. spends hundreds of
thousands of dollars each year in financial aid, food, clothing and
other essentials to veterans, homeless veterans and veterans' families
in need, women's' crisis centers and toys for children.
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”. This will ensure that prisoners’ rights and
protections remain consistent under the Geneva Conventions.
Expenditures exceed over half a million
dollars a year, nationwide, to educate the public and increase
awareness about the POW/MIA issue and other injustices suffered by
veterans. 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. Veterans speak
to youth groups about the honor of serving their country and educating
them about the POW/MIA issue.
Rolling Thunder®, Inc. sponsors search missions into Southeast Asia for POWs/MIAs, and the remains of those killed in action.
Thousands of hours are logged in by
Rolling Thunder®, Inc. 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).
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. National 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 Paul Revere & 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.
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