DIONNE WALKER and HEATHER CASPI
Firehouse.Com
Warren Betts
FDNY firefighters pass through Llanarch, PA on their way across the United States in the "Thank You America" bicycle tour.
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The six FDNY firefighters of the "Thank You America" cross-country
bicycle tour will roll into Washington D.C. Wednesday after three
days of hard riding all the way from Ground Zero in New York City.
The firefighters were in the Baltimore, Maryland area Tuesday and
planned to push forward all night in order to reach the Pentagon by
noon Wednesday, said Warren Betts of Zoomwerks, the
media company handling the tour's publicity.
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As news of the bike tour spreads, the riders are being greeted by
huge crowds as they move along, Betts said. He added that once the
group's route is finalized, it will be announced so that people can
plan when and where to cheer them on.
The six firefighters - Danny Rowan, Salvatore Princiotta, Drew Robb,
Gerard Dolan, Mac Hornug and Ralph Perricelli - are from Ladder Co.
9, Engine Co. 33, which lost 10 of its members in the collapse of the
World Trade Center towers.
The East Village firefighters are bicycling across the country in an effort
to show their gratitude to all those who have reached out to them with
donations and emotional support. The tour will take them through 19
states and over 2,757 miles before coming to a close in Los Angeles,
California, the original destination for one of the flights that
crashed into the World Trade Center.
"They feel like by doing this they're doing something for their comrades
that they lost," Betts said. "It will certainly help them in
acceptance and closure."
The tour group is picking up other firefighters along the way who
want to participate, many of whom helped out at the NYC disaster site
in the wake of the attacks. Anyone is welcome to ride along, whether
they are in for a few blocks or the long haul all the way across the
country, Betts said.
It was unclear how many firefighters are riding with the group at any
given time because it always changes, but "By the time they get to
the West Coast it will have swelled," Betts said.
In preparation for the journey, the firefighters endured a basic
exercise regimen and took steps to minimize weather-related hazards.
"They're taking a southern US route because the feeling is the weather
there would be less of a problem," Betts said.
After their stop in Washington D.C., the firefighters will ride on to
the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and other southern-most states,
before cutting through Texas, New Mexico and ending in L.A. where a
reception is planned, Betts said.
Throughout the trip the team will be followed by a van full of
communication equipment, provided by Pasadena-based Disk Marketing
Inc. The firm, which is housed in one of the nation's oldest
firehouses, volunteered their services as part of an ongoing
commitment to unity in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, Betts said.
Firefighters on tour will be hosted by local fire stations where they
will eat and get much needed rest.
"They've been in communication with other fire departments across
America, they're sort of going to be expecting them," Betts said. "So
far, the response has been huge."
"The response to our loss has been amazing," said tour organizer
Danny Rowan, according to a press release. "...We just want to give
something back to the millions of Americans who have supported our
efforts here in New York City following the World Trade Center
attacks. It is a way for the riders to express their appreciation
for the outpouring of support that our stationhouse received from all
across the U.S."
Cities that are in the path of the "Thank You America" tour include,
but are not limited to, the following:
Manhattan, New York City, Jersey City, Trenton NJ, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Washington DC, Charlottesville NC, Lynchberg VA, Marion
NC, Bristol VA, Knoxville TN, Athens GA, Chattanooga, Huntsville AL,
Florence AL, Corinth MS, Memphis, Brinkley AK, Little Rock AK,
Russellville AK, Clarksville TN, Ft. Smith OK, Withers Falls,
Henrietta OK, Oklahoma City, Elk City OK, Shamrock TX, Amarillo TX,
Achenne, Glen Rio NM, Tucumcari NM, Santa Rosa NM, Cline's Corner NM,
Albuquerque NM, Grants NM, San Rafael NM, Zoni Indian Reservation,
ST. John AZ, ClayPool AR, Mesa AZ, Tempe AZ, Buckeye AZ, Tonopah NV,
Blythe CA, Indio CA, Palm Springs, San Bernadino and then into Los
Angeles and Pasadena.
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