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The 9/11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride began humbly in the days following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when a small group of local motorcyclists, feeling the need to do "something " held a solemn ride to honor the 2,977 victims killed at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon just outside of Washington and aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pa., after passengers and crew members staged a revolt against the terrorist hijackers.
Over the years, the "rolling memorial" has grown exponentially, and on its 25th anniversary, the Sun-Gazette spoke with several spectators to get their perspective on the ride and their memories of that tragic date in American history.
For Heidi, from Trout Run, being in attendance to support the riders is a matter of patriotism.
"It just struck me that I needed to be here," friend, Jill, of Quiggleville said in relation to the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
"It's great that people really pay attention to what happened on 9/11 and how many lives were affected," Heidi said of the continued support of the community.
For both women, the memory of where they were when learning of the attack remains clear.
"My daughter was supposed to go to school that day, and I'd left her stay home because we were going to go on a shopping trip, so we walked into Walmart, and that's when they had TVs on as you walk through the store," Jill explained, calling it devastating.
"It was like, 'no, that's a movie or something, it can't be real,'" she said.
Heidi, a nurse, was working at her hospital when the news came in, and agreed it seemed like something that would play out on the big screen.
"I was like, 'no, this is really happening.' There was a lot to see, and then even after that, it was televised for so long," she said..
James Smithgall, of Nippenose Valley said he's seen the procession nearly every year.
For James, the event offers him a chance to support the riders, honor the victims and indulge in his fondness of motorcycles.
"It's interesting to see all the different bikes from all over and the different clubs," he said.
James was personally familiar with the famous skyline of New York, as he had once stayed in a hotel overlooking the twin towers, and received a call from his wife, Janet informing him of the attack.
"I was on the road between Canton and Towanda, headed up to where they were building a new newspaper printing company, and my wife called me and said, 'hey, there was a plane crash. When we got there, the whole day we just watched the news," James, who was working as a service contractor at the time, said.
"It's so emotional and patriotic," Janet said of the ride, adding, "I can remember the day so clearly, and it just brings me to tears sometimes to remember it that deeply."
Janet said she was first made aware of the unfolding events by their daughter, Jessica, after which she made the call to James.
"You're saying it out loud, and yet it's like they don't understand what you're saying, and I hardly understood what I was saying myself," Janet said.
"My kids were in elementary school at the time, and usually it's so chatty and everything in the hall to pick up the kids, and not one person said a word," she continued.
"It was shocking because in my generation, nothing like that ever happened, smaller things, but not airplanes dive bombing into buildings," she said.
While she has been glad to see the event continue to grow, Janet said she's saddened by the lower number of spectators each year.
"How soon we forget," she said, stressing the importance of passing on the history of the attacks onto the younger generation.
James and Janet's daughter, Jessica Bartolomeo, of Loyalsock, learned of the attacks shortly after a colleague of hers in New York City informed her that a large plane had just flown by his window.
"I got off the phone with him because we had just had a short conversation, and then it was like a minute later that we heard that a plane had hit," she said, noting that her company lost a number of their customers who had offices in the World Trade Center.
Bartolomeo shares her mother's concern of the younger generation's lack of awareness around the attacks.
"I wasn't alive for Pearl Harbor, so to me, that's terrible, but you don't really realize it because you weren't alive during that time," she said, likening it to the decreasing population who were alive during the Vietnam and Korean wars.
"You have a lot of kids these days who don't know anything about 9/11," Bartolomeo said.
Austin and Lex, of South Williamsport share in Bartolomeo's concern.
Along with the couple was their 8-year-old son.
"For him, it's just watching a parade, but as he gets older, I think it's important that we continue to teach what happened that day and the importance of that day, about the people that died, the firefighters that tried to save lives and the people that were jumping out of those buildings," Austin said, adding that the lessons should transcend politics.
"Education is important because history repeats itself," he added.
Austin said he also feels it's important to support those riding in the memorial, and views motorcycles as a symbol of unity, something he would like to see more of.
Austin, who hasn't missed a ride yet, said he found out about the attacks while sitting in a classroom at the former Rommelt Elementary School.
"They showed us the T.V., and they sent us all home. I sat with my family, and we watched, and it was just a dark, somber day," he said.
For Janet Doddato McDermott, brother, Scotty, both of South Williamsport, and sister, Judy Knarr, of Williamsport, the ride holds a more personal meaning.
"My mom's birthday was on the 14th, so it was kind of like a celebration for the two together," Janet explained.
"She used to always joke that, 'oh, they have this parade just for me,'" she said.
Unfortunately, the sibling's mother, Jean Doddato, would pass away at age 86, however, they have kept the tradition going.
Jean had worked for many years as a cook to 9/11 Memorial Ride organizer Father John Manno, who, himself, passed away in May 2019.
"He was in the beginning of the parade, so that was her highlight because those two were buddies. They were really close," Janet said.
"They waved to each other, and so it was a big deal for all of us just to see him in there," she said.
For each of the siblings, the day of the attacks is etched into their memories.
Six-months pregnant at the time, Judy was working for PP&L, out of an office at the Piper Aviation Museum at the former William T. Piper Memorial Airport.
"We were a little worried because nobody knew what would could happen," she said.
Scotty learned of the first plane's impact from his mom, who had been watching Good Morning America that morning, and immediately wondered if it had been some kind of accident.
"There were a couple minutes of commentary, and then the second plane came in from the opposite way," he said.
"All of a sudden, they started saying, 'a terrorist attack on the United States,'" Scotty said.
"It was heartbreaking. And then we watched it all come down, and all the people jumping from the towers because they're on fire or afraid of being hurt," he said.
"It was really shocking. We were very affected by it, and I still am," Scotty said.
Janet had just returned home from dropping her children off at elementary school when news of the first plane striking World Trade Center One broke.
"I had a T.V. in the kitchen, and I was going to make breakfast, and turned it on just as the first one happened, so I called my husband right away, and then the second plane hit," she said.
Although the school was initially resistant to letting the students leave, a neighbor Janet's was able to retrieve several children, including Janet's three.
"I feel bad now, letting these little kids see it that day, but I remember how that's all you did all day long, was watch it on T.V.," she added.
Both Janet and Judy are glad to see the tradition they started with their mom so long ago continue to grow.
"It's so nice how this parade keeps getting bigger and bigger. We all come together as a community, and people are on dirt bikes and mo pads and whatever else," Knarr said.
"It does something to your heart to see these bikes go by. It gets bigger every year, and their enthusiasm creates our enthusiasm," Janet said.
"You get teary eyed," Knarr added.
Even with the large community involvement, Janet would like to see an emphasis put on educating the younger generation of the meaning behind the ride.
"For a couple of years, we sat right in front of the college on Third Street to watch the parade go by, and there'd be so few people, maybe just a couple students out. I really think the school should promote this somehow and tell the kids this is going on today," she said.
"This is a one-hour event once a year, and it's important that you get out and see this," Janet said.