WORDS IN THE NEWS
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online
Merriam-Webster Online

1. Rolling Thunder:

Rolling Thunder Inc., established in 1987, is a Vietnam Veterans organization that continues to work for the return of MIA and POW United States Service Members from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The President of the Organization is Artie Muller and his organization works to lobby the United States Government Officials to further investigate the issue of MIAs and POWs that are possibly held in captivity since the Vietnam War. Rolling Thunder is noted for its annual rally of Vietnam Veterans at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia every May since 1988. It always occurs on a weekend and takes place in the Pentagon parking lot.

Tips：MIA means missing in action, is used to describe members of the armed forces who do not return from a military operation but who are not known to have been killed or captured; And POW means prisoner of war.

2. veteran:

 A veteran is someone who has served in the armed forces of their country, especially during a war.

3. abort:

to stop an activity because it would be difficult or dangerous to continue it.

4. skid:

If a vehicle skids, it slides sideways or forwards while moving, for example when you are trying to stop it suddenly on a wet road.

5. Triple Crown:

a title for winning all three of a set of important events in various sports. In US horse racing, it is especially for winning the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes, and the Kentucky Derby.

6. colt:

A colt is a young male horse.

7. Affirmed:

the name of a horse. The last sentence could be “ Big Brown could become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed (did it) in 1978.”