911 Foundation's Annual Memorial Ride

I was in the Pentagon section of DCA on 8/19th, attending a meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel. Around 4pm in the afternoon, I felt and heard what sounded like an earthquake beneath my feet.  This was not an earthquake (although one did occur soon after in Virginia), but rather the loud rumbling of over 2000 motorcyclists arriving into Pentagon City. Many riders were heading into the area hotel garages, including the DoubleTree Suites. This was one of the first of many tenth-anniversary commemorations of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Twenty five hundred motorcyclists launched the 11th America's 9/11 Ride beginning in Shanksville, Pa., and then continuing over the next three days to the Pentagon and World Trade Center crash sites.

The annual memorial ride, sponsored by America's 911 Foundation Inc., honors more than 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks, as well as the first responders who rushed to all three locations. The Annual Memorial Ride takes place in August respecting each site and the survivors, allowing them to mourn during September.

Ted and Lisa Sjurseth founded America's 911 Foundation in October 2001, and sponsored the first memorial ride the following month with 250 participants. The ride has increased in size over the past decade, and Sjurseth said this year's anniversary ride was the largest yet.

Every firefighter, policemen, military personnel or family member I had the opportunity to speak with that Friday evening had a personal connection to the tragedy of 9/11. It was very moving to hear their stories and their dedication to keep alive memories of loved ones lost on 9/11 and after.

The next morning, very early on August 20, the last leg of the ride began at the Pentagon as the motorcyclists traveled to Ground Zero in New York. The following day, they participated in a World Trade Center ceremony honoring the 2,753 victims of the attacks there, also including deaths from respiratory disease linked to the towers' collapse.

The ride raises money for programs that support families of first responders, foundation officials said. Over the past six years, the foundation has awarded more than $180,000 in college scholarships to more than 75 children of emergency responders, and donated more than $500,000 in new equipment and contributions to first-responder departments.

Go to: www.america911ride.org