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On Thundering

May 30th, 2010

I never need the news or the calendar to know that it is Memorial Day weekend. I live in Arlington about half a block from an I-66 overpass, a major conduit into Washington, DC. Rolling Thunder comes to town. I hear. And I know.

At any other time the nearly constant hum from traffic on I-66 is a distraction at best or an irritant. I prefer to listen to the songs of birds and crickets and the rustling of squirrels in the leaves. The day this past winter when I-66 was closed because of snow on the highway (a first!) the silence was beautiful.

At this time of year, though, the thunder from the highway is inspiring. In just listening I know what it will look like if I stand on the overpass and look out. The sound is continuous, and it does roll. The sound itself is exciting. And it is inspiring because these thousands of people stand for something. They are dedicated to making visible those Americans who have become invisible, who do not come home at all. I looked at their website and learned that Rolling Thunder is a nonprofit organization with 88 chapters across the country.

For me, Rolling Thunder has come to stand for more than what they intended, they represent what people can accomplish when they commit to a larger goal and band together in resolution. Where do I thunder is a question we might each ask ourselves.

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