Tomorrow the streets of Americus will be alive with the sounds of roaring engines of motorcycles. Men and Women sporting leather vests, bandana’s, and clean motorcycles. At first glance, these people might scare the onlookers, thinking a biker gang have invaded the city.

There is no need to worry, as these good people are members of the Rolling Thunder organization — dedicated to helping veterans, and in particular, former prisoners of war (POWs) and their families. They are participating in what is known as The Ride Home, which is held in Andersonville and Americus, in conjunction with National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is on Friday, 18 September 2009. The group is expecting 1,000 Rolling Thunder members to gather in Andersonville and Americus to honor an estimated 175 former POWs scheduled to attend this year's program of events as guests of Rolling Thunder.

The group has a full schedule of events planned for the four days they will be here, starting at 11 a.m. today with a convocation sponsored by the National Park Service and hosted by Georgia Southwestern State University at the Student Success Center in Americus.

The guest speaker will be Daniel J. Stamaris, Jr. of Headland, AL. Stamaris is a 31-year-old U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who was captured during Operation Desert Storm on Feb. 27, 1991. The Iraqis released him on Mar. 6, 1991.

We welcome these brave men and women to our streets, and encourage everyone to do the same.