R-225 Page 1 of 1
2022
No. R-225. House concurrent resolution honoring the Vermont Thunder Ride on its
30th anniversary.
(H.C.R.152)
Offered by: Representatives Palasik of Milton, Hango of Berkshire, Austin of
Colchester, Beck of St. Johnsbury, Birong of Vergennes, Cupoli of Rutland City, Gregoire of Fairfield, Harrison of Chittenden, Labor of Morgan, Martel of Waterford, McCoy of
Poultney, McFaun of Barre Town, Morgan, L. of Milton, Morgan, M. of Milton, Morrissey of Bennington, Mrowicki of Putney, Murphy of Fairfax, Ode of Burlington, Page of
Newport City, Partridge of Windham, Smith of Derby, Strong of Albany, Sullivan of
Dorset, Troiano of Stannard, Walker of Swanton, Williams of Granby, and Wood of
Waterbury Whereas, in 1990, Bill Fitzpatrick, a Vietnam War veteran and an avid motorcyclist,
traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the newly established Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle ride memorializing our nation’s military personnel killed in the Vietnam War,
and Whereas, Bill Fitzpatrick decided to create an annual Vermont Vietnam memorial ride and established Vermont Thunder Inc., and Whereas, on Memorial Day 1992, under the auspices of Vermont Thunder Inc., the first Vermont Thunder Ride took place, beginning at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial off I-89
in Sharon, and concluding at the Swanton Airport, a route selected for its rolling hills,
which reminded Vietnam veterans of roads traveled in Vietnam, and Whereas, the Vermont Thunder Ride, which occurs every Memorial Day regardless of
the weather, now proceeds along a 138-mile route, with each mile representing one of the
138 Vermonters killed in Vietnam, and Whereas, the Vermont Thunder Ride serves as both a memorial for the fallen and a recognition of those who returned home from Vietnam, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly honors the Vermont Thunder Ride on its 30th anniversary,
and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Bill Fitzpatrick.
VT LEG #363142 v.1