2018
Note: Events preceded by a RED asterisk (*) are official Chapter events.
Note: Events preceded by a RED asterisk (*) are official Chapter events.
* January 28, 2018 - 1:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 Board of Directors Meeting.
* January 28, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
* January 28, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
* February 10, 2018 - Arrangements for the final member of six who organized the Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island. Col John Howard, US Army, Retired (1924-2018) died with his family by his side 21 January 2018. John's name has already been placed on the VMC History Wall of Honor. Details of his funeral follows:
1000 - 1115 Funeral Service and Rites at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home (1360 N. Courtney MI near HS)
1130 - 1200 Funeral Procession with Police Escort to Burial at Florida Memorial Gardens (Rte 1 near Viera Blvd).
1200 - 1315 Burial Services at Graveside with Military Honors (US Army)
1330 - 1400 Procession from Memorial Gardens to VMC. Chapter 1 to provide escort - meet @ 1:00 PM at the cemetery.
1400 - 1415 Prelude Ceremony to Honor the 4 Chaplains and all Chaplains at VMC — (Special Howard family request/connection to Chaplains)
1415 - 1600 Celebration of Life Service in Gray Hall of VMC — Includes Light buffet provided by family via Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home
1000 - 1115 Funeral Service and Rites at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home (1360 N. Courtney MI near HS)
1130 - 1200 Funeral Procession with Police Escort to Burial at Florida Memorial Gardens (Rte 1 near Viera Blvd).
1200 - 1315 Burial Services at Graveside with Military Honors (US Army)
1330 - 1400 Procession from Memorial Gardens to VMC. Chapter 1 to provide escort - meet @ 1:00 PM at the cemetery.
1400 - 1415 Prelude Ceremony to Honor the 4 Chaplains and all Chaplains at VMC — (Special Howard family request/connection to Chaplains)
1415 - 1600 Celebration of Life Service in Gray Hall of VMC — Includes Light buffet provided by family via Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home
February 17, 2018 - 9:00 AM Registration. "Poker Run For The Kids" at Lou's Filling Station, 411 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901. sponsored by Bikers in Need. Kick stands up at 10:30 AM, last bike in at 4:00 PM. Event to benefit the Space Coast Early Intervention
Center.
Center.
* February 18, 2018 - 3:00 p.m. A Celebration Of Life ceremony at American Legion Post 200, 105 Ocean Blvd, Satellite Beach, FL 32937 (South Patrick Shores) for the Mother of Chapter 1 member Ty Barker. Mrs. Janice Marie Barker died in December.
February 24, 2018 - Eastern State College Collegiate Veterans Society Car Show, Melbourne campus. FREE, unless you want to show off a car, in which case there is a $20 registration fee.
* February 25, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
* February 28, 2018 - 9:00 AM. POW/MIA Flag presentation to the Sunrise Diner, 520 Causeway, Cocoa Beach.
March 7, 2008 - 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Titusville Veterans Cemetery Workday and major event after 8 months of effort to upgrade the original veterans cemetery in Brevard County. Contact Sam DiBlasio “Friends of the Cemetery” for more info at (321) 222-8738.
* March 10, 2018 - 10:00 AM. Sons of the American Revolution present a ceremony to mark the Last Naval Battle of the American Revolution at the Veterans Memorial Center, Merritt Island.
March 9 - 18, 2018. Bike Week, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach is a city on Florida’s Atlantic coast. It’s known for Daytona International Speedway, which hosts February’s iconic Daytona 500 NASCAR race. The beach has hard-packed sand where driving is permitted in designated areas. Near the boardwalk’s rides and arcades, Daytona Beach Bandshell stages free summer concerts. Steps from the beach, Daytona Lagoon water park offers go-karts, laser tag and waterslides.
March 16, 2018 - 1:00 - 4:00 PM. Veterans Support Fair sponsored by VITAS and One Senior Place at Veterans Memorial Center.
* March 17, 2018 - 3:00 AM - 1st Flight of the 2018 season of the Space Coast Honor Flights, Wickham Park, Melbourne, FL
* March 18, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
March 23-25, 2018. Boy Scout Major Camporee in the Veterans Memorial Center Park.
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* March 24 & March 25, 2018 - 6:00 AM. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 to provide parking attendant services for the Melbourne area Space and Air Show, Melbourne International Airport. |
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March 31, 2018 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. Helicopter Easter Egg Drop for children and families at the Veterans Memorial Center Park.
April 3, 2018 - 4:00 - 6:00 PM. Speakers Special Event by Francis Gary Powers Jr, on the U-2 Shot Down over the USSR in the 1960’s at the Veterans Memorial Center, Sykes Creek, Merritt Island.
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* April 6 - 8, 2018 - All Day. Space Coast Regional Airport Warbird Air Show, Titusville. The Chapter will have a tent, table and Chair of Honor at this event. |
April 7, 2018 - America's Run for the Fallen. Beginning in Fort Irwin CA to Arlington National Cemetery, VA. Five months, 6,000 miles, honoring 20,000 fallen service members. This run is NOT supported by Rolling Thunder® Inc.
April 7, 2018 - Brevard County Law Ride, Police Hall of Fame and Museum, Titusville.
April 7, 2018 - New Freedom Farm's first annual Freedom Rocks Fest.
Rockie Lynne will be performing from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. A $10 donation per person is requested, and it includes a raffle ticket for great prizes. You can
over at a local hotel, or pitch a tent at the farm, enjoy breakfast at the barn
on Sunday morning. More information will be forthcoming.
For more information:
Lois at (540) 855-1158 or email newfreedomfarm2016@gmail.com.
New Freedom Farm is located at 6118 Lithia Road, Buchanan, VA.
Map -> https://preview.tinyurl.com/y9jxy9an
The Chapter has a few free raffle tickets for anyone wishing to attend this function.
Rockie Lynne will be performing from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. A $10 donation per person is requested, and it includes a raffle ticket for great prizes. You can
over at a local hotel, or pitch a tent at the farm, enjoy breakfast at the barn
on Sunday morning. More information will be forthcoming.
For more information:
Lois at (540) 855-1158 or email newfreedomfarm2016@gmail.com.
New Freedom Farm is located at 6118 Lithia Road, Buchanan, VA.
Map -> https://preview.tinyurl.com/y9jxy9an
The Chapter has a few free raffle tickets for anyone wishing to attend this function.
* April 15, 2018 - 8:30 AM. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 escort for traveling Vietnam Memorial from Eastern State College (North Campus) to Wickham Park. Chapter to meet at Kay's BBQ on SR520 at 8:30 AM for breakfast.
* April 16, 2018 - 6:00 PM. Wreath laying ceremony at the Wall; Opening ceremony to follow at 7:00 PM.
* April 16, 2018 - 6:00 PM. Wreath laying ceremony at the Wall; Opening ceremony to follow at 7:00 PM.
April 19 -22, 2018 - Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion, Wickham Park, Melbourne.
You can download the agenda below.
| reunion_agenda.pdf |
* April 21, 2018 - 2:00 AM - Space Coast Honor Flight Escort, Wickham Park, Melbourne, FL. Meet at 7/11 on the corner of Parkway and Wickham at 2:00 AM.
* April 22, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Wickham Park pavilion at the Wall.
* April 29, 2018 - 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Fundraising event at Harvey's Supermarket, 1066 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, 32922. Come out an help with this event.
* May 12 & May 13, 2018 - 10:00 - 2:00 - Fundraising event - Walmart Supercenter, 1500 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL
May 19, 2018 - 9:00 - 10:30 AM. Ceremony with visiting Navajo Nation Code Talkers and Grand Opening of Code Talkers 3 Year Exhibit in the Veterans Memorial Center Museum.
* May 20, 2018 - 8:00 - 10:00 AM. Chapter fundraising Breakfast event at VFW Post #4206, Dairy Road, Melbourne. We will be hosting a dozen or so Dutch riders from the Netherlands at this breakfast.
* May 23, 2018 - Rolling Thunder®, XXXI "Ride For Freedom". This annual event usually just referred to as "Rolling Thunder" occurs each Memorial Day weekend, and culminates with a protest ride to the Lincoln Memorial. The purpose of this ride is to bring awareness of the POW/MIA cause, and to provide pressure to the government for more and better accountability for those service members still missing from all previous conflicts and wars. The Chapter will be leaving Brevard County on Wednesday May 23th. We will be meeting at the Sam's Club parking lot in Cocoa. More details will be forthcoming.
Fourteen riders from the Netherlands will also be joining us in the ride to D.C.. If anyone else would like to join us, please send us a note through the 'contact' tab. More information will be posted here when available.
Fourteen riders from the Netherlands will also be joining us in the ride to D.C.. If anyone else would like to join us, please send us a note through the 'contact' tab. More information will be posted here when available.
* May 27, 2018 - Rolling Thunder XXXI, "Ride for Freedom" in Washington, D.C.
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* May 28, 2018 - 8:30 - 10:00 AM. Annual Veterans Memorial Center Memorial Day Ceremony, with a Dedication of the 4 Chaplains Monument (if completed). For Chapter members not going to D.C. |
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* May 28, 2018 - 11:30 AM. Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. For members not going to D.C. or the ceremony at the Veterans Center.
May 28, 2018
* June 16, 2018 - 9:00 - 4:00 - Fundraising event - Walmart Supercenter, 1500 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL
* June 24, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
* June 30, 2018 - 11:00 AM. Flag raising, Veterans Club of Hollywood Estates, West Melbourne.
June 30, 2018 - 8:00 AM - 4 PM. Motorcycle and Car Show / Swap Meet to benefit the Veterans of the Indian River County area. Breakfast, lunch, and drinks will be available.
* July 22, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
* August 4, 2018 - 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Grand Opening of Paws for Veterans, 63 Ocean Blvd, Satellite Beach, FL 32937, Members to stage at American Legion Post 200 at 10:45 AM. KSU 10:55. Call (321) 425-4189 for more information.
* August 10, 2018 - 1:30 PM. Committal Service for Chapter 4 (Jacksonville) President Crispin Fairfax Vonderheide, at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Details will be forthcoming. However, dress will be Red Shirt, vest, black pants.
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* August 12, 2018 - Order of the Purple Heart dedication Ceremony at 12:00 Noon at the Veterans Memorial Center, Merritt Island. All veterans and guests are invited to attend. |
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August 14, 2018 - Coast Guard 228th Birthday. Special Sea Cadet Event at the Veterans Memorial Center, Merritt Island. Time to be determined.
* August 19, 2018 - 1:00 PM - The family of WW II veteran Salvatore Bologna will be hosting an award ceremony at the Pineda Boat Ramp building, 5995 N US Hwy 1, Melbourne, FL 32940. Dress will be yellow shirts, vests. Meet at the old Harley Davidson building across the street at 12:40 PM. KSU 12:45.
* August 26, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
August 27, 2018 - Wing Ding 40, Knoxville, TN. For those Honda Goldwing riders, this is the annual 3 day convention. All riders are welcome to go with us.
September 8, 2018 - 6:30 PM - Honor Flight Stars and Stripes Evening at the Muscle Car Museum on Sarno Road, Melbourne. This is a fundraising event, and the entry fee is $100, which includes food and drinks. Contact (321) 613-2403 for more information.
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September 11, 2018 - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Patriots Day (9/11) Ceremony in the Veterans Memorial Center Plaza and Gray Hall. Everyone is invited to attend. |
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September 13 - 17, 2018 - 7:00 AM (Central Time). Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride® begins in Bridgeport, AL and ends in Waterloo, AL around 3:00 in the afternoon. We will be leaving Brevard County on Thursday the 13th en-route to Chattanooga, TN . It is nearly a 12 hour ride, so we'll do about 7 hours the 1st day, and 5 the next. Everyone is invited to attend. We will meet at Sam's parking lot in Cocoa (SR520 & I-95) at 07:45. KSU 0800 hours.
September 17, 2018 - United States Air Force 71st Birthday.
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September 21, 2018 - The Ride Home, Warner Robins, GA. National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day is Friday, September 21, 2018. In honor of that day, the National Park Service, and the Friends of Andersonville GA, are hosting the 2018 National POW/MIA Recognition Day. 'The RIDE HOME' Opening Services at 0900 hrs. on the grounds of the Andersonville Historical Site. At 1700 hrs. Central Georgia Technical College will be hosting the HERO'S Banquet, followed by Keeping the Promise Service and Candlelight Service. Saturday, 22 September at 1100 hrs., Central Georgia Technical College will host the Recognition Service followed by the FLYBOY-Ground-Pounder Lunch. All Services are OPEN to the Public. The Chapter will depart on the 20th. |
September 22, 2018 - 0230 Hours - Space Coast Honor Flight escort - Senior Center - Wickham Park. Chapter members stage at the 7/11 on Parkway & Wickham 0215.
* September 23, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
September 24, 2018 - 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM. Give Back night at Chili's on Merritt Island. Chili's will donate 10% of sales to MFC - (Military, Fire, Cops) when anyone comes in with the flyer (or picture on their phone). Share with friends or groups that you know. MCF will be donating all of the proceeds to the charities at their annual event to be held on October 6, 2018. |
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September 29, 2018 - Commissioning of the U.S. Navy's newest fast-attack submarine USS Indianapolis (SSN 789) at Port Canaveral.
October 12, 2018 - The United States Navy's 243rd Birthday.
October 13, 2018 - 11:00 - 4:00 - Fundraiser for Wreaths Across America at Space Coast
Harely- Davidson
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* October 27, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 "Free the Eagle" 2018 Poker Run. Registration is from 8:00 - 10:00 am at 200 S. Banana River Drive, Merritt Island. $10 per driver, $5 for each passenger. Motorcycles and/or cars and trucks welcome. |
* October 28, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. This year, Veterans Affairs facilities in communities all across America take time to offer a special recognition of the significance of the U.S. participation in the ‘war to end all wars’. For 99 of the past 100 years, Americans have remembered those who served our country in uniform on 11 November in the Great War – first as Armistice Day, and then, since 1954 as Veterans Day. President Trump declared November 2018 the second annual National Veterans and Military Families Month to "salute the brave and dedicated patriots who have worn the uniform of the United States, and...celebrate the extraordinary military families whose selfless service and sacrifice make our military the finest in the world." The VA will be hosting several national events and providing services to commemorate the occasion. |
November 3, 2018 - 10:00 AM - Call to Honor - Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.
On Saturday, November 3, 2018, at 10:00 AM, MIAP – Florida, in cooperation with Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory, Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory, and Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society, will be interring the unclaimed cremains of 24 veterans, or spouses of veterans, with full military honors, at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery located at 5525 US Hwy. 1, Mims, FL 32754.
The veterans being interred served in the US Army, Marine Corps., Navy, and Air Force during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and other non-war specific periods.
The longest that any of these being interred has been unclaimed is since 1964.
There will be an escort for this service that will leave from American Legion Post 1, 1281 N. US Hwy. 1, Titusville, FL 32796, to the cemetery. Any and all motorcycle organizations, riders, and vehicles are welcome to participate. Meeting time is 8:30AM at the Post for a safety briefing, and the escort will depart (KSU) to the cemetery at 9:10 AM.
You are cordially invited to attend this service. This service is open to all residents of our area communities.
November 7 - 8, 2018 - 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Military Band at the Melbourne Auditorium in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the end of WW I.
November 8, 2018 - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Open House, VA Veterans Center, 2098 Sarno Road, Melbourne.
November 10, 2018 - The United States Marine Corps 243rd Birthday.
November 10 & 11, 2018
*FREE FOR ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED MILITARY AND FLORIDA RESIDENTS.* (Valid ID required)
Don't miss our annual Veterans Day Open House! Enjoy our collection of over 50 historic combat aircraft and memorabilia along with plenty of exciting activities and attractions including classic automobiles, radio controlled airplanes, and much more.Veteran combat pilots and air crews will be on hand. See you there!
November 11, 2018 - 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Spyglass Hill Road, Melbourne
Spyglass Hill Road, Melbourne
November 11, 2018 - Veterans Day
November 12, 2018 - Veterans Day Observed.
*November 12th, 2018 — Veterans Day Ceremony 9:30-10:30 at Veterans
Memorial Center, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island.
* November 13, 20018 - 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM. The Kane Center, 900 SE Salerno Road, Stuart, FL 34997. The Chapter will present certificates to the nearly 90 veterans at this facility. Members stage at the west end of Pineda Causeway, at the dead end, at 10:00 AM. KSU 10:15 AM. Dress safety yellow and vests.
November 17, 2018 - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Museums of Brevard Fair at the Veterans Memorial Center Plaza, Merritt Island. Sales, food, drinks, and special activities.
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November 18, 2018 - 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Brevard Humane Society will host the 21st Annual Critter Run on Sunday, November 18th at the Brevard Humane Society located at 1020 Cox Road in Cocoa FL. This event is sponsored by Sally’s Bargain Barn & Motorcycle Shop and benefits The Brevard Humane Society. The cost to participate in the poker run will be $7.00 per hand or (2) hands for $10.00. The first bike out will leave at 10 AM with the last one departing at 11:30 AM. The last bike is due in at 4 PM at H&D Roadhouse located at 1811 E. Merritt Island Causeway. Event activities include a 50/50 Drawing, Silent Auction, Door Prizes, and Live Music. Motorcycles & other motorized vehicles are welcome. For more information, contact Theresa at 321-302-4828. |
* November 25, 2018 - 1:00 PM. Rolling Thunder® Inc. Florida Chapter 1 Board of Directors meeting.
* November 25, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum, 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The public is invited.
December 2, 2018 - 10:30 KSU - Annual Toy run for children in need. Stage at the Merritt Island Mall.
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* December 15, 2018 - Wreaths Across America - Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. Escort staging at the new Walmart Distribution Center @ 7:15 AM. KSU 8:15 AM. |
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