{"id":584,"date":"2024-11-27T15:41:02","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T15:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/?p=584"},"modified":"2024-11-27T15:41:02","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T15:41:02","slug":"female-bikers-gesture-at-rolling-thunder-makes-people-clap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/?p=584","title":{"rendered":"Female biker\u2019s gesture at Rolling Thunder makes people clap"},"content":{"rendered":"<article id=\"post-4512\" class=\"post-4512 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-uncategorized\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>In 2002, Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers marched into the middle of the road and \u201cpopped up a salute\u201d to thank the thousands of veterans rumbling down the road on their motorcycles at the Memorial Day Rolling Thunder event.<\/p>\n<p>Since, the man \u2013 known as \u201cThe Saluting Marine\u201d \u2013 became a main attraction at the annual parade held in Washington, DC, holding an excruciating hours-long salute to honor fallen soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>Overwhelmed by Chambers\u2019 commitment to the service, many people express their gratitude with tears, hugs or a salute. In 2012, one female soldier stopped her blue Sportster next to The Saluting Marine and what she did next touched the hearts of millions across the world.<\/p>\n<p>Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers slammed his heels together, lined his fist with his trouser seam, and snapped his right hand into a steely salute that perfectly aligned with his brow.<\/p>\n<p>He stood in his position for up to five hours, saluting thousands of veterans as they rode by on their motorcycles outside of the Pentagon during the Memorial Day Rolling Thunder parade.<\/p>\n<p>Chambers became known as The Saluting Marine in 2002 when he \u201cpopped\u201d into the middle of the road, greeting veterans at the parade. \u201cI just jumped out there as the parade was happening and popped up a salute. Then I started thinking, \u2018Can I make it to the end? If I fall out will I look like a complete idiot?\u2019\u201d Chambers said of his first time holding a demanding hours-long salute at the event.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"entered litespeed-loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheSalutingMarine%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0dzLBnhLGz2Me7WZZwpDdVSzz3xm5SZZDUhkfz7gfnVHXcj2R74dinTCLwmRJWeKYl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"680\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-lazyloaded=\"1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheSalutingMarine%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0dzLBnhLGz2Me7WZZwpDdVSzz3xm5SZZDUhkfz7gfnVHXcj2R74dinTCLwmRJWeKYl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" data-origwidth=\"500\" data-origheight=\"680\" data-ll-status=\"loaded\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nThe veteran, who joined the Marines in 1994, adds, \u201cI just got caught up in the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rolling Thunder started in 1988 to raise awareness about prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIA) and attracts thousands of veteran bikers from across the United States. Unfortunately, it ended in 2019, but Chambers left a permanent mark on everyone who saw his commitment and honor to veterans.<\/p>\n<p>And he refused to surrender to the heat or a medical condition in his back, holding his position steady until it was over. One year, he even held his salute with a broken wrist, that he refused to cast until he served his duty.<\/p>\n<p>Clearly in distress, some veterans approached Chambers with Aspirin and water, offering their support.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do this for the pain,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s all about the pain. A lot of these guys still hurt and if I can relieve their pain through mine just for one brief moment, then I\u2019ve done my job.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Overwhelmed by his commitment and discipline, hundreds of emotional veterans stop along the parade route, some bending a knee and others offering him hug or a salute \u2013 all showing him their gratitude.<\/p>\n<p>Each time Chambers responded, \u201cNo, it was my pleasure. Thank you.\u201d<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"entered litespeed-loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheSalutingMarine%2Fphotos%2Fa.197012440417054%2F382279695223660%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"482\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-lazyloaded=\"1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheSalutingMarine%2Fphotos%2Fa.197012440417054%2F382279695223660%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" data-origwidth=\"500\" data-origheight=\"482\" data-ll-status=\"loaded\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nOne year, a young boy stepped on the median and dropped to his knees in front of Chambers.<\/p>\n<p>Sharing a photo of the moment on Facebook, the saluting soldier writes, \u201cPrayers are private he displayed the courage to walk out in front of millions to practice his own faith I had to reinforce his courage and kneel down with him (sic).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And, in 2012, an unidentified female soldier stopped her baby blue Harley Davidson Sportster and stepped in front of the battlefield cross memorial made of combat boots and a rifle, topped by a helmet.<\/p>\n<p>After saluting Chambers and the fallen soldiers, she then placed a red rose by the memorial, prompting an eruption of cheers from parade goers.<\/p>\n<p>The clip, seen by 6.2 million people since it was first posted on YouTube, captured the hearts of people praising her patriotism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat woman made me so proud to be an American because I lost two brothers to the war,\u201d writes one online user. A second shares, \u201cShe made me cry, I\u2019m so proud to be an American. God bless all our fallen warriors and God bless America.\u201d<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"entered litespeed-loaded\" title=\"A female Army Soldier stops her bike during Rolling Thunder XXV t\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dLFFKJjp3nI\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-lazyloaded=\"1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dLFFKJjp3nI\" data-origwidth=\"640\" data-origheight=\"360\" data-ll-status=\"loaded\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nA retired infantry sniper writes, \u201cIt was pretty damned heart-warming to see that woman get off of her bike to return salute. And even more so to know that the civilians watching were in admiration,\u201d the comment continues, \u201cSo, to all of you who have proudly served, I salute you. And to those of you who haven\u2019t served but respect those of us who have, know that we stand in front of you \u2013 where we can best defend what\u2019s dear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Please let us know what you think of the heartwarming video and then share this story with your friends so we can show our veterans the respect they deserve!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2002, Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers marched into the middle of the road and \u201cpopped up a salute\u201d to thank the thousands of veterans rumbling down the&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=584"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":586,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584\/revisions\/586"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncisnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}