PHOTOS: Thousands of Motorcycles Drive Through Connecticut in the "CT United Ride," a Remembrance of 9/11

Report and Photography by Paula Antolini

View more than 140 photos of the CT United Ride here: picturesbypaula.com

The 14th Annual CT United Ride took place on September 7, 2014, as thousands of motorcycles drove through parts of Connecticut. This is Connecticut’s largest annual 9/11 tribute and the largest single ride in New England. An estimated 10,000 spectators come out to watch the event.

The 60-mile motorcade started in Norwalk at 11:30 a.m. and went through Westport, Wilton, Georgetown, Redding, and arrived in Bethel at approximately 12:15 p.m., driving north on Route 58, then turned right on Route 302, and continued on to Newtown, Monroe, Trumbull, and Fairfield, ending at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

In Bethel, some residents had arrived more than an hour earlier, in anticipation of this event, as fire fighters were hanging a large American flag across Route 58 in Bethel. The Bethel Fire Department and the New Fairfield Fire Department worked together to hang the American flag over Route 58 in Bethel, with a ladder raised high from each town’s fire truck holding the flag on each side.

Bethel Fire Department Chief Fred Ingram confirmed that this is the same flag that hung over Route 58 in the CT United Ride of 2013, a flag with a special significance in remembrance of 9/11. The flag honors Chris Blackwell, who was a Paramedic in Bethel, a Volunteer Fire Fighter in New Fairfield and also worked for the New York Fire Department, Rescue Company Number 3, of the Bronx, and died in the 9/11 tragedy. He was a resident of New Fairfield.

New Fairfield Selectman Mike Gill said that the flag was owned by Dan Reese, Chairman of the Board of Finance in New Fairfield. He then gave it to William (Bill) DeFeo, who was a former selectman and probate judge, who now loans the flag for occasions such as this, Gill said.

The motorcade was met with cheers and waves by the many Bethel residents, and Bethel and New Fairfield fire fighters, who lined the street, as cycles passed under the large flag. Fire department sirens were blaring the entire time the parade was in progress, to greet the riders.

Over a dozen CT towns provided police and fire companies to help ensure the safety of the ride.

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The Opening Ceremony was at at 10 Norden Place in Norwalk, Ct. at 10:30 a.m. It began with the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem, the Connecticut State Firefighters Pipe and Drum Corps, and the Norwalk Fire Department ringing a bell 11 times as a solemn moment of silence was observed.

Speakers were Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, Congressman Jim Himes, local mayors and other state officials.

The annual CT United Ride first started in 2001 as a fundraiser and tribute to 9/11 first responders in New York City. It has grown from about 500 riders to approximately 4,000. It now raises money for the first responders and the United Way in CT.

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