2021 Ride for America starts Sunday, August 1st, at the Santa Monica Pier

Published on July 27, 2021

Firefighters representing departments in California, Colorado and Washington State will travel across the country in remembrance of those who lost their lives on that fateful morning almost 20 years ago.

The Santa Monica Fire Department is hosting a ceremony for the 2021 Ride for America send off under the world-famous Santa Monica Pier sign at Ocean Avenue and Colorado. Fifteen active and retired firefighters will be riding by bicycle through 14 states, over 40 days, stopping at numerous fire departments and communities along the way. The riders will arrive in New York, NY on September 9th, 2021.

The ceremony will involve two ladder trucks suspending a United States Flag next to the famous landmark. The journey for the fifteen cyclists will begin after ceremonial remarks from Fire Chiefs. Along the way, riders will stop at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Flight 93 National Memorial, and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial before they arrive at Ground Zero, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.

WHAT:
9-11 Twentieth Anniversary Ride Across America

WHEN:
Sunday, August 1, 2021
6 AM

WHERE:
Santa Monica Pier
Ocean Avenue & Colorado Boulevard

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York. After arriving in New York City, the cycling team will visit Ground Zero. The riders seek to honor the first responders who lost their lives in the attacks, and bring awareness to the illnesses many of the surviving responders still suffer from today. Cyclist will travel over 3,300 miles in 45 days, reaching out to communities small and large across the country.

The ride is being organized by Fire Velo, based in Murrieta, California, and Northwest Fire Velo, based in Washington. Fire Velo is a highly visible national cycling organization that promotes physical and mental wellness in the fire service and partner emergency services by participating in cycling events and charity events across the nation, as well as fundraising to support fire service efforts of cancer awareness, cancer prevention and overall wellness. All funds raised through Fire Velo and NW Fire Velo will help provide financial assistance to fire and military service-based groups and causes. This ride also raises money for: San Francisco Firefighter Cancer Prevention Foundation, Friends of Firefighters, The Fire Family Foundation and The Gary Sinise Foundation – RISE Program.

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Feature image courtesy of @velocebikeco