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The sound of thousands of motorcycles will fill the air throughout the county as the 9/11 Memorial Ride rolls through the area on Sept. 11, 2026.
The annual event is held to honor the 2,977 lives lost when 19 terrorists crashed hijacked jetliners into each of the towers of The World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.
A fourth plane, likely intended to attack the U.S. Capital, crashed in Shanksville, Pa. after passengers staged an uprising against their hijackers.
Gates will open at 10 a.m. at the Clinton Township Firehall, 2311-Rt 54, Montgomery. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. before participants head out on the 42-mile, 14 municipality route at 6 p.m.
This year's keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Army Sgt. Major Louis F. Johnson Jr., who boasts more than 30 years of military leadership experience, according to a bio posted to the coalition website.
Williamsport-born Johnson is a graduate of Montoursville High School, and enlisted in the U..S. Army in 1995.
Throughout his service, Johnson received several awards and distinctions, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, among many others.
He holds a master of business administration from Liberty University and a bachelor of science in technology management with a minor in business administration from Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Following his military retirement, Johnson assumed the role of recruiting manager for Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, Va., as Recruiting Manager, before being promoted to director of security and facility security officer in 2025.
Johnson also serves as Commander of American Legion Post 188 Shenandoah Valley.
Food and other vendors will be set up throughout the day, as well as live entertainment courtesy of The Very Few, a rock band made up of Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame-inducted musicians, according to the coalition website.
Attendees will also have the chance to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, with the winner required to be present at the time of the drawing.
In order to accommodate the large and ever-growing crowd of spectators, Susquehanna Trailways will provide shuttle service between Montgomery Park and the Clinton County Fire Company from 4 to 10 p.m.
A fireworks display courtesy of Bixler Pyrotechnics will cap off the night at 9 p.m.
The memorial ride started with a small group of riders looking to express their "grief, patriotism, and resolve" just four days after the tragedy, and has grown into one of the largest annual 9/11 memorial motorcycle rides in the United States.
"Founded by Thomas "Tank" Baird, Don Miller, Father John Manno, and a dedicated team of volunteers, the ride quickly became a symbol of unity, freedom and resilience," according to the coalition's website.
"What began as a local act of remembrance has become a nationally recognized 'rolling memorial' that continues to inspire communities across the country," the website said.
With nearly 30% of the U.S. population born after, or having no memory of the attacks, a chief mission of the coalition is to educate the youth of the nation of the tremendous loss and impact of the attacks, while honoring military personnel, veterans and local first responders.
"Members visit local schools to share the story of September 11 with younger generations, encouraging students to appreciate the freedoms they enjoy and the sacrifices that protect them. The Coalition has also supported scholarship funds, veterans' organizations, families of fallen heroes, and other community initiatives that carry the spirit of remembrance far beyond a single day each year," the coalition website said.
"The importance of the 9/11 Memorial Ride is to honor those who lost their lives, but also to remind our country that we can never take our liberty and freedom for granted," the website said.