The following is a message from Bruce White, the Event Director of the National Memorial Trail Alliance.  We will be joining them again as they ride through this area.  If you have interest in joining them in any of their other endeavors, contact Bruce directly.  He will also be coming to our May Grill and Chill to meet with club riders and talk about the events.

Carl

The September 11^th National Memorial Trail Alliance is  a non-profit organization that is developing a 1,300 mile multi-purpose trail connecting the Pentagon Memorial in DC to the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA to the Ground Zero Memorial in NYC and back to the Pentagon Memorial in DC .  The Mission Statement for this organization is clearly that we must “Never Forget” our fallen heroes from the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01.

In June 2022, a group of 25 cyclists completed a 23 day, 1,100 mile trip to all three crash sites, marking the first organized bike tour to complete the entire triangle.  The LWA met us in Fleetwood and guided us into the Velodrome and treated us to lunch and a few laps on the track.  It was truly a highlight of the trip.

In 2023, the 9/11 NMTA will be offering three events that we hope will interest members of the LWA.

On Sunday May 28,2023, the “Let’s Roll” 12 Hour Endurance Event will be held at the Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, VA (just South of Fredericksburg).  This will be the first non-motorized event ever held on the 2 mile paved road course with all of the proceeds going to the September 11^th National Memorial Trail Alliance to continue to develop the 9/11 NMT.  Free lunch, free live music and inspiring guest speakers will entertain participants and volunteers. 

From June 20 – July 3, 2023, a bike tour will be offered from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia.  This 660 mile event is designed to stay in hotels each night and average +/- 50 miles per day.  There will be both road and trail riding along the way.  The ride will again pass thru Trexlertown and even stay the night there.

From October 8 – 12, 2023, a bike tour will be offered from Harrisburg to Gettysburg in a loop.  The third day will be designed as a bike tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield.  Evening lodging will also be in hotels.

In 2024, the 9/11 NMTA has a goal to offer 4 events.  They hope to expand to three 12 Hour Endurance Events.  The Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, VA, a two bridge loop starting on the island in Harrisburg, PA and one to be held at the Bob Rodale Park on the 2 mile loop across from the Velodrome.  It is also planning to offer a bike tour along the entire 9/11 NMT in June. 

The LWA can be a huge help in so many ways for each of these events.  Members can be participants or volunteers and can help in locating donors and sponsors.   More can be learned by going to the website at 911trail.org  There is a 2 minute video and a signup flyer that also helps explain the 9/11 NMTA mission.  We ALL remember where we were on 9/11/01.  Help us honor the memory of those lives we lost.

Bruce White

Event Director – Advisory Board

September 11^th National Memorial Trail Alliance (9/11 NMTA)

htcdigtree@aol.com

540-379-1181