Bowling Green Fire Division will once again be hosting a team of firefighters cycling across the nation to mark the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.
Ten years ago in 2011, two firefighters from California rode their bicycles, followed by a support vehicle, from Santa Clara, California, to New York City to honor and commemorate firefighters and first responders who lost their lives on 9/11.
They called this event Bay2Brooklyn. During this 3,800-mile trip they found their way through many cities and towns across America, both large and small, with one of their 40 overnight stops in Bowling Green.
This September will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and they are making the trip again.
The logistics will be challenging, with cyclists having to make adjustments on the fly in search of safe routes, food and lodging. This will not be a relay – each cyclist will average 80 to 100 miles a day, testing the cyclists both physically and mentally. The ride will take them north following part of the historic Oregon Trail and the Lincoln Highway.
Bowling Green will once again be an overnight stopping point, with the cyclists’ anticipated arrival date being Aug. 30. This year’s group of 10 riders and three support vehicles are made up of active/retired firefighters and military veterans.
The Bowling Green Fire Division is honored to host the riders, along with local first responders and their retirees, to a cookout dinner at the City Park Veteran’s Building on Conneaut Avenue at approximately 6 p.m.
After dinner, the public is encouraged to attend a “Meet & Greet” at the Veteran’s Building. The Bowling Green Fire Division is also making overnight accommodations for the group at a local hotel before they ride on to their next destination the following morning.
Donations to help defray the costs are gladly accepted, but not necessary. Cash or checks payable to Bowling Green Firefighters Association may be submitted, with all proceeds going directly to the Bay2Brooklyn group.
This year, on Aug. 1, the group of cyclists rode from Santa Clara, California, to the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge to officially start the 3,800-mile ride across America. The goal is to arrive in New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge in time for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
The team is riding to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 as well as all first responders, military and health care workers who continue to serve on the front lines today. Any donations raised will go to support the Gary Sinise Foundation and the Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation.
The first ride was made in 2011 for the 10th anniversary, by Santa Clara Fire Department (SCFD) firefighters Darrell L. Sales, Dave Lombardo and support chase driver Fred Belligan. Sales, now retired, had planned the 2011 ride and has taken the lead again for 2021.
When Sales was asked what made him want to make this ride again, his reply was simple. “Why not, our mission hasn’t changed. All of us watched the events unfold on Sept. 11, 2001, and we haven’t forgotten the 343, this is why we ride,” he said, referring to the 343 New York City firefighters killed while responding to the Twin Towers. Assisting Darrell are fellow retired SCFD firefighters, Frank Walsh and Jeff Provancher.
Not to be forgotten, the cyclists will be making stops at the California Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Sacramento, the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon Memorial, Washington D.C., before making the final push to the New York 911 Memorial and the Brooklyn Bridge.
To see the route that will be taken, along with their overnight stops, visit https://bay2brooklyn2021.com “Follow Us As We Ride.”
Information about the group can be found at https://bay2brooklyn2021.com/, with updated daily riding information found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Bay2Brooklyn2021/. Here is also a link to a YouTube video from their 2011 ride… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAqJefkloTQ.
