Trending
Patriots on motorcycles passed by a replica of the steel beams forming a cross left standing at the collapsed twin towers at Ground Zero in New York.
As they either entered or left the Lycoming County 9/11 Memorial Ride Friday, the replica of the steel cross beams were on display near a sign outside the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Co. at 2311 Route 54.
"It will stand as a monument for each and every one of you," said the Rev. Gary Smith commending township Fire Chief Todd Winder for having the replica of the cross made.
The cross was christened and commemorated to Christ before the memorial service and the memorial run which covered 42 miles lasting for two hours after kickstands went up at 6 p.m.
That steel will not rust or fall apart, Smith said.
"The cross will stand as a memorial long after we are all gone," he said.
Tank Baird, co-founder and president of the 9/11 Memorial Coalition has organized the ride for a quarter century. Baird helped organize the first local ride as a "protest ride" just four days after the Sept. 11 attacks. Over the last 25 years, he has guided the event into becoming one of the largest annual 9/11 memorial motorcycle rides in the United States, drawing thousands of riders and tens of thousands of spectators.
Each 9/11 state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, told the crowd it starts by "me being very, very angry at what happened " he said. "Then as we ride we see American flags ... we see young kids ... we see old grandparents," he said.
"Your heart starts to warm up a little bit and as the sun beams down on you like it did on 9/11 and you see all of the firefighters and you see the trucks there you begin to become overwhelmed with joy, and the tears come for many of us including me," Flick said.
"I ride for not just those who perished on 9/11, but for those who are still perishing," he said.
Shortly after the attacks, Flick's son joined the U.S. Navy.
"I could not have had a prouder moment in my life," he said.
Flick also rides for his deceased brother-in-law Sean Thomas, a 1992 graduate of Hughesville High School and an alumnus of Penn State University who after serving in Afghanistan, returned home, got married and had a daughter.
Tragically, four months into serving in Iraq, he was killed. It was March 27, 2007 in Baghdad's Green Zone. He left behind his wife, Carrie, and a daughter, Alexa.
"I ride for Sean today," Flick said, adding that he's seen a lot of the fellow riders also wearing Master Sgt. Sean Thomas patches. "Whether you have one or not, I just want to thank you and God bless each and every one of you," he said.