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Rolling Thunder motorcyclists roll through Washington, D.C.

Organizers said more than one million riders and spectators were expected.

By Ed Adamczyk
Participants in the annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom make their way through Washington, D.C., May 29, 2016. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI
1 of 5 | Participants in the annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom make their way through Washington, D.C., May 29, 2016. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 30 (UPI) -- Thousands of motorcyclists converged on Washington, D.C., Sunday for an annual pilgrimage, known as Rolling Thunder, dedicated to missing veterans and prisoners of war.

The meeting, conducted since 1988 on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day, has grown to the point that over one million riders and spectators were expected this year, its organizers said. Bikers assembled early Sunday morning at the Pentagon, in Arlington County, Va., before rumbling across bridges spanning the Potomac River to Washington's Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in a "Ride for Freedom." In a city accustomed to parades and other civic celebrations, it is a singular, colorful and noisy event.

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Rolling Thunder raises awareness of veterans' issues. An invited guest speaker this year was Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who spoke for about 20 minutes at the Reflecting Pool rally, touching on subjects often addressed during his campaign. While he received loud appreciation from his listeners, two topics from the campaign – his dismissal of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a Vietnam prisoner of war, as "not a war hero," and controversy about money Trump allegedly raised for veterans' groups which has not yet been disbursed – remained mentioned.

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"Look at all these bikers? Do we love the bikers? Yes, we love the bikers," Trump said to cheers.

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