For over three decades, Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders have annually traveled to Washington, D.C., to honor war veterans who were either taken prisoner or are still Missing in Action.

The event grew to one of the largest annual veterans gatherings in America, routinely drawing tens of thousands of riders to the National Mall each Memorial Day weekend.

Organizers had to cancel the event after the 2019 gathering due to logistical headaches between Rolling Thunder and the Pentagon police. Another national veterans organization, Rolling to Remember, which is run by AMVETS, picked up the ball but found a new obstacle - from the Defense Department, operating under the Biden administration.

Last week, the government’s largest agency rejected the AMVETS organizers’ request to use the Pentagon parking lot as a pre-parade staging area for the traditional Memorial Day weekend motorcycle ride at the nation’s capital. The Pentagon had initially given permission earlier this year but reversed the decision just days later, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the expected large gathering.

AMVETS leaders have been abiding with the federal and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization is a member of President Biden’s new COVID-19 Community Corps, which is a contingent of local leaders and prominent organizations who were recruited to help inform and encourage Americans who might be hesitant to receive a vaccine.

Joe Chenelly, national executive director for AMVETS, who first requested use of the Pentagon parking lot last July, was critical of the agency’s foot-dragging. He had expected to hear a decision by January, and when none came he notified the Pentagon that he needed an answer by April 16.

The refusal didn’t come until last week.

Despite the denial, AMVETS organizers are still confident they can hold a “safe, reasonable demonstration outdoors that incorporates social distancing, masking where appropriate, and sanitation stations. But they still need a place to assemble. One plan discussed is to hold the rally in the parking lot of RFK Stadium.

Jan Brown, the national commander of AMVETS, also issued a statement criticizing the Pentagon’s slow decision-making and the fact that it decided to deny the application without any meaningful communication with his veterans group.

He said the biggest disappointment in the Pentagon’s denial was that it ignored the veterans for months.

The Pentagon made a counteroffer of holding the event on Labor Day instead, when there would be more time to review AMVETS’ request, but Chenelly said that is not workable since Memorial Day weekend is the reason that the veterans assemble.

With or without a formal event, thousands of riders are still expected to converge on the nation’s capital this year, dedicated to keeping the tradition alive and to honor their brothers in arms, including both POW/MIA troops and veterans who died by suicide.

Fighting to preserve the Memorial Day tradition is Florida Rep. Brian Mast, an Army veteran who lost both his legs to an IED while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. Along with criticism of the Defense Department for derailing the veterans group’s plans to assemble, the congressman blames the Biden administration for being behind the decision to end a Memorial Day tradition.

“We are blessed beyond words to be citizens of the greatest country on Earth and only live free thanks to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Rep. Mast said.

“But sadly right now, in Joe Biden’s America, it is easier to cross the border illegally than it is to get a permit to pay our respects to our nation’s fallen heroes.”

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.