A ceremonial torch being carried across the country to Washington, D.C., for Memorial Day by the motorcycle caravan, Rolling Thunder "Operation Carry the Flame," passed among hands of mothers, riders, and veterans Monday in Sallisaw.

The sound of the caravan could be heard rumbling into the county as the group made its way to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4518 in Sallisaw with the torch that they have carried with them since leaving from the deck of the USS Hornet in Alameda, Calif., May 17.

The torch honors Blue Star and Gold Star Mothers of America and Gold Star Wives of America.

Blue Star Mothers are those who have children serving in the military, while Gold Star Mothers are those who have lost children who were in the military. Gold Star Wives are those women whose husbands died while serving in the armed forces or from service-connected disabilities.

Rolling Thunder brought members of Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., including the Blue Star Mother national president Jean Burlingame, with them to Sallisaw from El Reno, where another special program was held for Rolling Thunder Sunday.

Over 200 people attended the hour-and-a-half Sallisaw event that included a lunch and ceremony to welcome the caravan. George Day of Gans is making his second cross-country trek with the group to Washington, D.C., for Memorial Day, which honors, remembers, and supports prisoners of war (POWs), those missing in action (MIA), and men and women in the armed forces.

The group will be joining over 300,000 other motorcyclists in Rolling Thunder's Ride for Freedom XVIII on Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C.

The Monday lunch in Sallisaw benefited the Blue Star Mothers of America Inc. and Day, who is the only one from Sequoyah County to make the entire trip from California to Washington, D.C., a VFW spokesperson said.

During Monday's ceremony, VFW members also presented Blue Star Mothers of America with a wreath, which they plan to place at a statue in Washington, D.C., during Memorial Day ceremonies. A plant was also presented by the Blue Star Mothers to Hazel Shackelford of Muldrow VFW Post 8384, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son in Vietnam.

Blue Star Mothers

Jeam M. Burlingame of New York, national president of Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., said she flew into Tulsa on Friday for an Oklahoma convention and went to El Reno Saturday night to welcome Rolling Thunder.

When the group asked her to welcome them again in Sallisaw on Monday, Burlingame told them that she would be honored to attend.

The next time Burlingame will see the group will be in Washington, D.C., for Memorial Day weekend.

Four others with the Tulsa chapter came to the lunch with Burlingame.

She said Rolling Thunder rides on behalf of POWs and MIAs - "for those who can't ride themselves."

"They do so much good," Burlingame said of Rolling Thunder.

Mission Of Rolling Thunder

According to Rolling Thunder's Web site, the group provides assistance to the families of veterans who are MIAs, POWs, or deceased; wounded, disabled or ill veterans and their families; and the families of in-service personnel. The group also educates the public about the contribution to society made by veterans and those currently serving; government policies that affect the status and treatment of veterans; and government policies that affect efforts to account for MIAs and POWs.

Burlingame said the plight of MIAs and POWs are important to her organization as well, including those who haven't been accounted for.

"We consider every veteran our child," Burlingame said.

Burlingame said the purpose of her group is to support those currently serving. She said Blue Star Mothers send packages to troops, form hospital committees to visit veterans and throw parties, and present Gold Star banners to parents of those who have fallen.

The mothers also provide a support system for each other, with a total of about 1,500 members in chapters across the United States. Oklahoma has 10 chapters.

Tulsa Chapter

Barbara Porter, treasurer and public relations coordinator for Oklahoma Chapter 1, based in Tulsa, said the Tulsa chapter serves all of Oklahoma.

Porter, whose husband is originally from Sallisaw, organized the first Oklahoma chapter.

"I'd love to have one in Sallisaw," Porter said. She said all Sallisaw needs is five mothers willing to start a chapter.

Porter said Blue Star Mothers have fundraisers and send freedom boxes, which includes various supplies, to troops. She said they have sent 15,000 boxes so far.

When troops are deployed, they also give travel bags to soldiers. The bags include something to do and snack on while they travel.

She said the group is helpful because mothers have the opportunity to bond with others going through similar situations, especially since there are not any real active bases in the area. Porter's only son is a Navy pilot.

Porter said they don't care if people are in favor of the war or against it. She said those who are overseas fighting are someone's child, grandchild, father, mother, sister, brother.

"We are non-political," Porter said.

The group was started during World War II by a man who put out an advertisement looking for mothers of sons serving in the war. At that time, they had 600 people respond.

Porter said the group dwindled to 300 to 400 members when Sept. 11 occurred.

"We can never let this die down," Porter said.

Porter said when people ask her if she has children overseas, she replies, "I have 140,000 overseas right now."

"To me, they're all my sons and daughters," Porter said.

Porter said anyone can donate to Blue Star Mothers. She said a list of needed items is on their Web site at www.okbluestarmothers.org.

To make a donation, contributions can be made to P.O. Box 2306, Tulsa, Okla., 74101-2306.

For more information about Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., visit their Web site at www.bluestarmothers.org.