Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1 Will Participate in Memorial Day Statewide Ride For Freedom Florida

Will Participate in Ride For Freedom Florida 2025 in Punta Gorda

Rolling Thunder Ride For Freedom Florida will be held in Punta Gorda, Florida, on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 – May 25. Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1, which is based in Brevard County, will be participating.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA—Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1 (RTFL1) is a volunteer organization that is one of the most active groups supporting Veterans and the military on the Space Coast.

Memorial Day Weekend is always a special time for RTFL1. They will once again participate in the state-wide “Ride For Freedom Florida.”

The Ride For Freedom Florida will take place from May 23 to May 25 in Punta Gorda, Florida. RTFL1 will leave this Friday at 9 a.m. from the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center in Merritt Island. The 190-mile trip from Brevard County to Punta Gorda will not deter members of RTFL1, who will be well represented.

RTFL1 president, Dr. Lance Armstrong, described their organization this way: Rolling Thunder, a term coined in Vietnam by B-52’s bombing, is a ‘Missing in Action, Prisoner of War’ (MIA/POW) advocacy group.  We have over 80,000 missing troops since World War I.

Over 80 chapters are nationwide, and anyone can join.  Our patriotic efforts are working.  Not one service member was left behind in Afghanistan.  The military member recovery efforts have been consolidated and are extensive.

Full military honors at funerals, giving family closure, are occurring. Rolling Thunder has greatly assisted these changes, and we ask anyone interested to join.”

There are many wonderful non-profits on the Space Coast. Those who care for our Veterans and strongly support the military are special. Thank you, Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1, for all you do.

For more information on Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1, CLICK HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers for pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, one in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock and the other raising over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 26 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that our nonprofit partners in central Florida produce.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

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