The Journey

“The “official” start of the tour began in Los Angeles on 9/14. The following 43 days took us places I had only read about, and seen pictures of in National Geographic as a kid. …We experienced the fraternal camaraderie of the fire service, and the people they serve…every night.”

“We traveled through small towns and big cities but the feeling of community was the same. Each person had a story to tell about 9/11/01. Each person had a reason to come out and support our riders, our cause.”

“Mike Lindy, a member of Squad 41 in the Bronx, said the reason he rode was to “Memorialize, Remember, and to Heal.” Squad 41 lost 6 members on 9/11/01”

“This tour was run for the job; for the brothers we lost and the ones we will lose down the road. …”Joshua Gallo

“Looking back, reflecting on the bike trip, the images that pop up most often in my head are the people I met. Not the biking of 80 miles or more a day on hilly, chilly, highways without shoulders, but the people who were waiting for us at the end of each days trek with cold beers, hot food and big smiles….” Peter Augello

“I have been in the fire service for 35 years….this was one of the major highlights of my career. People in Mendota still stop me and talk about the visit of the FDNY and the Benefit Dinner at the Civic Center. The two things that people talk about mostly is the fact that the FDNY firefighters came to the individual tables and sat and visited with them …..”

“As we neared closer to home, the tropical weather of the west coast had turned to freezing temperatures and pounding rain through Pennsylvania. We had not seen the sun since before Chicago, Illinois…”

We lost 17 crewmembers and 139 passengers on 9/11/01. Many of our other crewmembers were forced to stay away from home for a week while U.S. airspace remained closed……I want to honor the crewmembers of American Airlines flights 11 and 77 and United Airlines flights 175 and 93. All are heroes! All will be remembered!”