Our Calendar of Events is where you can find upcoming events that Rolling Thunder® Inc., Florida Chapter 1 may participate in. Those dates preceded by a RED asterisk indicate that the event is an official Chapter 1 event. It is also a great resource to find other veteran activities. If you, or your organization would like to publish your special events on our calendar, just click here, or on the "Contact" menu item on the left, fill out the form and hit the 'submit' button.
January 09. 2021: 1600-2000 hours. Inaugural Scout and Veterans Memorial Center Retirement Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park. Numerous groups of Scouts participating. The Pit is the result of an Eagle Scout Project by Jacob Huff of Merritt Island.
January 30, 2021: 0800-1900 hours. Special Event: “Legions of Service” Veterans Memorial Park in honor of veterans and active duty service members. Multiple activities during the day including the Zybek Athletic Combine; Star Wars Immersive Fan Experience; Gift of Music Concert; OASIS of Central Florida Valentines Day Package Stuffing for deployed troops abroad; Food Bazaar of trucks and more. Additional details in mid-January. Similar special events to be held 4-5 times during 2021 in the expanded and improved Veterans Memorial Park. Contact Donn Weaver at VMC for more information.
* February 07, 2021: 1400 - 1500 hours. Commemoration Ceremony of honor the Four Immortal Chaplains of WWII at the Veterans Memorial Center Memorial Plaza. The Story of the sinking of the USAT Dorchester on February 03-04 1943 is told as we honor the four Chaplains who gave up everything to help soldiers and sailors who had to abandon ship in the frigid North Atlantic as well as all Military Chaplains in our history since the Revolution when George Washington appointed the first Chaplain.
* February 11, 2021: 0900 - 11:30. POW*MIA flag raising at Manatee Elementary School, 3425 Viera Blvd, Viera, then Viera Elementary School, 8300 Stadium Parkway, Viera. Come join us. Florida Chapter 1 is committed to raising a POW*MIA flag at ALL of the 82 Brevard County Public Schools between now and the 15th of May.
* February 18, 2021: 11:20 AM. Funeral Escort for Leward Mooso. Stage at Sam's Club, 450 Townsend Rd, Cocoa, FL 32926. Dress - white shirts, black trousers. Leward Mooso was a veteran and the father of RTFL1 member Grace Bowers.
Depart at 11:30 a.m. to escort Leward’s cremains and the family to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, FL 32754. Internment ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
This is an official RTFL1 event. Rolling Thunder® is not a motorcycle club. All members are encouraged to attend.
Depart at 11:30 a.m. to escort Leward’s cremains and the family to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, FL 32754. Internment ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
This is an official RTFL1 event. Rolling Thunder® is not a motorcycle club. All members are encouraged to attend.
* February 28, 2021: 1400 hours - General Membership Meeting at the Veterans Memorial Center.
March 06, 2021: 1600 - 2000 hours. The Space Coast Food Festival at the Veterans Memorial Center and Veterans Memorial Park. Sponsored by the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce. This popular community event has been held at the Port and other large venues. There is room for organizational tables and canopies as well as good entertainment and great food to sample. Point of Contact is Darby Miller of CBRCC (321) 784-6444.
* March 13, 2021: 1000 - 1130 hours. The Last Naval Battle of the Revolutionary War Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Center. Sponsored by the Brevard Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Held in the VMC Plaza area, Museum and Gray Hall. Commemorates the final 1783 Naval Battle of our War of Independence fought off the coast of Cape Canaveral.
March 13, 2021: 0700 - 1200. Marine Corps JROTC Central Florida Raider Challenge at Veterans Memorial Park (0700-1200) . Palm Bay JROTC Marine Unit will host and coordinate with other Marine JROTC units from surrounding counties expected to join them.
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March 14, 2021 - 1000 - 1500. American Legion Aux Rummage Sale and the Veterans Memorial Center, Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island. |
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* April 10, 2021: CANCELLED Freedom Fest 2021. New Freedom Farm, 6118 Lithia Road, Buchanan, VA 24066. Florida Chapter 1 will stage at the Sam's Club parking lot on Thursday, April 8th. This will be a two-day trip up; returning Sunday April 11th. Check back here for more information and updates. |
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* April 11, 2021: Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard (VVB) Traveling Memorial Wall escort. Stage at Eastern State College north campus parking lot for escort and set-up at Wickham Park. Time TBD. Check back here for more information. |
* April 12, 2021: 1800 - 2000 hours. Presentation of Memorial Wreaths at The Wall and Reunion Opening Ceremony. Report to Pavilion at 5:30 p.m. White shirt.
April 15 - 18, 2021: Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion - Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935
April 17, 2021: 0730 - 1400 hours. Annual Good Deeds Foundation of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAACC) Golf Fundraising Tournament at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. This tournament funds MOAACC Good Deeds Foundation support to all JROTC and related units in the county; active duty military needs not covered by DoD; and support to veterans in urgent need.
* April 17-18, 2021: 1000-1600 hours. Cocoa Beach Air Show along the Beach from the Cocoa Beach Pier to the Minutemen Causeway. The show includes the USAF Thunderbirds, the F-22 Raptor Flight demo team and a B-52 Bomber.
April 21, 2021: Leesburg Bikefest. Notably, it is held on 30 blocks in downtown that is set aside just for the motorcycle event. And even better is that Main Street is open only for motorcycles during the Leesburg Motorcycle Rally.
April 23, 2021: Fundraising "Holes for Heroes" Golf Tournament sponsored by Florida Prep USAF JROTC Program to support their program and veterans in need. Held at the Duran Golf Club in Viera. Shotgun start at 1300. More information: https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/third-annual-heroes-hole-in-one-golf
May 7, 2021: CBRCC Military Advisory Committee(MAC) 25th Annual Champions Cup Golf Tournament. Supports MAC's missions with active duty troops and veterans. Held at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. 1130-1215 Shotgun start.
May 8, 2021: 10:00AM. Law Ride. American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, 6350 Horizon Dr, Titusville, FL 32780
* May 11, 2021: 1:15 PM - rain or shine. The 86th POW*MIA Flag for Brevard County Public Schools (BPS), to be raised at Mims Elementary School, 2582 US 1 in Mims. Led by Rolling Thunder, FL Chapter 1 , with support from the American Legion, VFW and the Good Deeds Foundation of the Cape Canaveral Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAACC), the BPS and others.
*May 14, 2021: 10:00AM. POW*MIA Flag raising at the Melbourne International Airport.
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*May 15-16, 2021: The Great Florida Air Show, Melbourne International Airport, featuring the Blue Angels demonstration team. Chapter 1 will have an informational booth set up, so come on by and say hello. |
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May 15, 2021: Space Coast Honor Flights have been suspended through Aug 15, 2021 per National Honor Flight policy. Stay tuned as we update our schedule. We can't wait to be back in the air with our Veterans! |
May 16, 2021: 1300-1500 hours. Mary Marshall Celebration of Life. Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 US-1, Rockledge, FL 32955
* May 28-30, 2021: Rolling Thunder® Ride For Freedom XXXIII Florida. Event will be held at the Veterans Memorial Center, Park, and Museum, at 400 S Sykes Creek Parkway on Merritt Island. Our traditional Memorial Weekend event will feature a host of activities, at least 30 vendors, 3 or 4 bands playing throughout Saturday, lots of food, a bike wash by Queen Bee Productions, the Patriot Guard Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, and the Global War of Terrorism Memorial. A nighttime candle light vigil at the wall in the park, and a Blessing of the Bikes ceremony at the Port. This event is open to the public, and you do not need a motorcycle to enjoy the activities at the park. If you do want to participate in the Ride For Freedom planned for Sunday, it is only open to vehicles classified as motorcycles. For your convenience, you may register for the ride on-line. Please note: there is an error on the flyer about pins and patches upon registration - pins are available for sale, but only patches are free to the registered rider. A second rider (or anyone else may purchase a patch or pin (or both) from any Rolling Thunder® booth in the park.
Those people coming from out-of-state that needs camping sites, one of our members has two full hook ups and plenty of room to dry camp. They have a pool and outdoor pool house complete with a shower and an outdoor kitchen. Contact Cheri at 772-240-4116.
Come out and support our mission to bring awareness to the Prisoner of War and Missing In Action issue. More information will be posted when available, but for now, mark your calendar.
UPDATE:
Friday the 28th is the Blessing of the Bikes at Port Canaveral; then ride to Rolling Vietnam Wall at Veterans Memorial Center and park; Candle Light Vigil with Gold Star Families carrying the Flame of Freedom; Color Guard, and taps.
Saturday 29th at Thunder Alley 4 great bands will be providing entertainment; 35 vendors, and tons of community Patriot support. “If you can’t find it there, you don’t need it!”
Sunday the 30th is the famous ROLLING THUNDER RIDE FOR FREEDOM XXXIII which will occur for the first time in Florida with all Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter’s Support, and many other veteran and patriotic groups joining with us. It will be a great 45+ minute ride!
Riders will stage at the designated staging area, with KSU AT 1000 hours. Thunder Alley will be open prior to the ride, so those needing food or beverage can ‘fill up’ before the ride. A planned B-52H Flyover to launch this ride has been arranged, just like at the Pentagon. The 307th Bomb Wing Commander Col. Steve Kirkpatrick will be “AC”. The crew is “Honored to Represent how this organization’s name was coined.”
We will travel West on SR520 through major portions of Merritt Island, then turn South on US-1, passing through Rockledge, and Suntree, then turn East onto the Pineda Causeway crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers, then travel North on A-1-A along the beaches and through Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. Riders will disperse at Port Canaveral, just minutes from I-95, to return home, or any other destination.
Ride for Freedom News Story:
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2021/05/24/rolling-thunder-organizers-expect-up-40-000-motorcyclists-merritt-island/5125995001/
June 22, 2021: 6:05PM. MSG (Ret) Michael Sonnenschein Benefit - Space Coast Credit Union, 5470 Stadium Pkwy, Melbourne, FL 32940 Kick Stands Up: 6:15PM. Benefit Start: 6:30PM - USSSA Space Coast Stadium
* June 26 - 27, 2021: 10:00-1700. Publix Fundraiser - 1850 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953
June 29 – July 3, 2021: Wing Ding 42 - Springfield Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri
Wing Ding is the ultimate Honda Gold Wing & Touring Bike convention! Hosted by GWRRA at different locations across the United States every year, the rides to Wing Ding as well as unique atmospheres are unforgettable. Come join us for a motorcycle convention unlike any other, where you can enjoy the company of friends with live entertainment in a beautiful location, learn more about motorcycle safety, discover all the latest products for your bike, and even test drive a new one.
Wing Ding is the ultimate Honda Gold Wing & Touring Bike convention! Hosted by GWRRA at different locations across the United States every year, the rides to Wing Ding as well as unique atmospheres are unforgettable. Come join us for a motorcycle convention unlike any other, where you can enjoy the company of friends with live entertainment in a beautiful location, learn more about motorcycle safety, discover all the latest products for your bike, and even test drive a new one.
July 2, 2021, 18:30-20:30: USSSA Military Appreciation Night, USSSA Space Coast Stadium, 5800 Stadium Pkwy, Melbourne, FL 32940. Military and Veterans Get in Free. Regular Tickets only $10.00. 50/50 Cash Raffle with I/2 proceeds to Ranger Mike Fund. Military and Veterans line up on field with Teams along first and third base lines.
* July 17-18, 2021, 10:00-1700: Fundraiser at Publix Supermarket, 125 East Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island.
* August 22, 2021, 1400: Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1 Monthly Meeting, 400 S Sykes Creek Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32952
* September 11, 2021, 0200: Honor Flight. Escort honored veterans to MCO, Assemble at the 7-11, 3100 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935.
* September 14, 2021, 09:45: Flag Raising at St Francis Reflections Sonata ALF. Assemble at Calvary Chapel Melbourne - Viera Campus, 2852 Fellowship Pl, Melbourne, FL 32940.
* September 17, 2021, 08:30: Flag Raising at Space Coast Christian Academy. Assemble at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran, 400 Lucerne Dr, Cocoa, FL 32922
* September 19, 2021, TBD: Celebration of Life for member Joe Fida.
* September 26, 14:00: General Membership Meeting, 400 Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, Fl.
*October 13, 2021: 5:30 p.m. Flag Raising at Satellite Beach Fire Station, 1390 S Patrick Dr, Satellite Beach, FL 32937.
*October 14, 2021: 12:40 p.m. KSU. Funeral Escort for Paul Gregor. Stage at Beef O' Brady's, 724 S Patrick Drive Satellite Beach, FL 32937. Shirt-White Shirt, Black Pants.
Paul Gregor, born 11/03/1947, died 08/21/2021, Vietnam Veteran, US Navy, Date of Entry 11/23/1965, Date of Discharge 10/16/1968, Navy Reserve 10/17/1968 - 1971. Visitation 11:00-12:30. Motorcyclist must be at Beach Funeral Home by 1:00, 1689 S Patrick Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, 32927. Leave Beach Funeral Home by 1:30 to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery located in Mims for a 3:00 service.
Paul Gregor, born 11/03/1947, died 08/21/2021, Vietnam Veteran, US Navy, Date of Entry 11/23/1965, Date of Discharge 10/16/1968, Navy Reserve 10/17/1968 - 1971. Visitation 11:00-12:30. Motorcyclist must be at Beach Funeral Home by 1:00, 1689 S Patrick Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, 32927. Leave Beach Funeral Home by 1:30 to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery located in Mims for a 3:00 service.
October 16, 2021: 6:00 p.m.. Elks Lodge Dinner, Florida Chapter 1 members have been invited to dinner at the Cocoa Elks Lodge 1532, 315 Florida Ave Cocoa, FL 32922. CANCELLED
October 17, 2021: 1:30 a.m. Space Coast Honor Flight, Meet at the 7-11 on 3100 North Wickham Road. Depart for Wickham Park, 2785 Leisure Way, Melbourne, FL 32935. at 1:40 a.m.
October 29, 2021: 6:30 p.m. Trunk or Treat. Space Coast Christian Academy, 1950 Michigan Ave. Cocoa, FL 32922
November 8, 2021: 1:45 a.m. Space Coast Honor Flight, Meet at the 7-11 on 3100 North Wickham Road. Depart for Wickham Park, 2785 Leisure Way, Melbourne, FL 32935. at 1:50 a.m.
November 9, 2021: 2:00p.m. Flag Raising and Pinning Ceremony, Brookdale Melbourne ALF, 1765 West Hibiscus Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
November 11, 2021: 10:00 a.m. Flag Raising and Pinning Ceremony, Greater Palm Bay Senior Center. 1275 Culver Dr. NE Palm Bay, FL 32907
*November 11, 2021: 1:00 p.m. Musical Tribute to Veterans, Joe's Club, 4676 North Wickham Rd. Melbourne, FL
*November 11, 2021: 3:00 p.m. Flag Raising at Lily Park, 8th Ave, Indialantic, FL 32903. Hosted by the Combat Vets whom invited Chapter 1 to attend.
November 12, 2021: 1:15 p.m. Veterans Ride-By at Island Health and Rehab. Staging at Burger King, 1455 N. Courtenay Parkway Merritt Island, FL 32953
November 14, 2021: 2:00 p.m, Rolling Thunder® Inc. Florida Chapter 1 General Membership Meeting. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, 400 S Sykes Creek Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32952