Reverend blesses bikes to kick off 9/11 Memorial Ride
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, left offered a blessing to Joseph Kanagy before he departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Melissa and Joseph Barber of Jersey Shore before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Melissa and Joseph Barber of Jersey Shore before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Giuseppe Failla of Muncy before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Giuseppe Failla of Muncy before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Giuseppe Failla of Muncy before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Motorcycles adorned with American flags are staged prior to the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Major General John Gronski, U.S. Army, Ret. offered words of thanks and encouragement to motorcyclists before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, right, offered a blessing to Joseph Kanagy before he departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, left offered a blessing to Joseph Kanagy before he departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Melissa and Joseph Barber of Jersey Shore before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Melissa and Joseph Barber of Jersey Shore before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Giuseppe Failla of Muncy before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Giuseppe Failla of Muncy before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, center offered a blessing to Giuseppe Failla of Muncy before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Motorcycles adorned with American flags are staged prior to the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Major General John Gronski, U.S. Army, Ret. offered words of thanks and encouragement to motorcyclists before they departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Chaplain Bill Stankiewicz, right, offered a blessing to Joseph Kanagy before he departed on the 22nd 911 Memorial Ride forming at the Clinton Township Fire Hall on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Stankiewicz and others with the Christian Motorcycle Association roamed the parking areas blessing the bikes.
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MONTGOMERY -- Prayers and blessings of the bikes.
That was once again the traditional send-off for motorcyclists taking the 42-mile route in the 22nd annual Lycoming County 9/11 Memorial Coalition Ride Monday.
Many received blessings from a pastor at the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company grounds.
Making the rounds was the Rev. Bill Stankiewicz of Lock Haven, who laid hands on the shoulders of riders such as one from Belleville in Mifflin County.
He prayed for him and many other riders' safety and offered blessings before the procession rolled out after announcements by the 9-11 Memorial Coalition leadership and remarks from a retired Army general.
The chaplain, with Christian Motorcyclists Association, prayed for their safety and security, that they remain acutely aware as they rode side by side and one in front of another on the highway.
He asked God to protect the motorcyclists from any potholes, debris, pesky critters that may pop up and run across the road and blessed the manufacturer of the motorcycle, its design and prayed to ensure its mechanical integrity and that the engines ran without interruption.
He asked the riders to keep their eyes wide open and see the glory of creation.
He also prayed that the message of the motorcyclists riding to never forget resonated for those watching from the curb and on front lawns, as the county and nation always
remembers what happened 22 years ago and the sacrifice of the nearly 3,000 first responders then and now.
A memorial service was held before the ride featuring remarks by Maj. Gen. John Gronski, who served in the U.S. Army before his retirement.
Riders made their way through rural areas and the City of Williamsport.
The riders -- some who were not born in 2001 -- rode by crowds lined up along the route.
"We have kids riding in this ride who were not alive on 9/11," said Todd Winder, Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company chief.
"That to me is neat," he said. "To think that a thing we started four days after the attacks, that a next generation is riding and pledging to remember and to never forget.