Published: August 18, 2007 08:38 am         

Cyclists Memories of 9/11

CUMBERLAND — Harlan Smith watched from Kline’s Restaurant as the rumble from hundreds of motorcycles echoed through the Narrows last year.

Unsure of what was happening, she followed.

As the group pulled into the Allegany College of Maryland campus, she realized not many people were on hand to greet them. When she found out the riders were part of the America’s 9/11 Ride, she felt this patriotic city could, and should, have a better showing.

Yesterday, it did, with members of the Mountainside Marines, Young Marines and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 172 standing guard at the college entrance.

“I cried the first 10 minutes when they started pulling in,” Smith, a Mountainside Marine member, said. “I’m real proud we could do this.”

The nearly 650 motorcyclists wound their way through the Narrows, Interstate 68 east and then Willowbrook Road as they curved into the campus. They came from all over and were of all ages but they all had a common purpose — to never forget 9/11.

The riders started Thursday and gathered in Shanksville, Pa. The group then traveled to the Pentagon in Washington with the ride ending Sunday at the site of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Tom Rovniak, a special patrolman with Mentor-On-The-Lake, Ohio, is riding in memory of Kathleen “Kit” Faragher, 33. A systems consultant with Janus Capital Corp. in Denver, she replaced a colleague who came down with the flu on a business trip in September 2001. She was on the 106th floor of the World Trade Center when a plane crashed into it.

It was Faragher’s sister who introduced Rovniak to his wife.

“I’m usually speechless,” Rovniak said of his second trip, one that takes him through many towns where people come out and show their support.

Robert Craig of Cincinnati was on his first 9/11 ride and brought along his 10-year-old son, Jordan. It was Jordan’s first trip East and his longest bike trip.

“It’s wonderful, it really is,” Craig said. “It’s a great group of people and a well-organized event.”

The younger Craig, who was only 3 when the terrorist attacks happened, said he understands why people come together to honor the fallen.

Many of the riders travel in groups, like Pennsylvania friends Tim and Donna Roark of Avondale, Daryl and Teresa Brackin of West Grove, and Mark and Melinda May of Atglen. All three couples were on their first ride.

“My thoughts are this is very inspirational, very moving,” Donna Roark said.

Ted and Lisa Sjurseth of Leesburg, Va., are behind the ride, which falls under the America’s 9/11 Foundation Inc. He serves as president and gives credit to his wife for starting the event.

The first ride took place in November 2001 with annual rides now each August.

The original concept, Ted said, was to spend the night in New York and help bring money back into the city. After that first ride, everyone wanted to do it again. The trip, which takes riders through six states, takes nine months of work.

He said the first ride saw 250 bikes and that number now can grow to 1,700 when the group hits New York. The ride involves a number of police officers with two ambulance crews traveling along and an engine from the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department trailing.

Sjurseth’s goal by 2011 is to have EMS or fire personnel from all 50 states in the ride. This year, two officers from Ontario joined, and he also hopes European riders join eventually.

So far, the 9/11 rides have raised $250,000, with at least $170,000 going to police, fire and EMS organizations and $60,000 awarded in college scholarships.

Police officers lead the way, with the VIPs, those who raise the most money, right behind them.

As the riders made their way through town, many stood outside waving flags. Once at the college, a number of people greeted them, many watching from the hillside near campus.

“I love to see them come in,” Jayne Wagoner of LaVale said. “It just overwhelms you to see so many of them and to know why they’re here.”

Wagoner’s sister Laura Ryan, along with Becky DiNicola, both college employees, joined the group.

“This is just something you don’t usually see,” Ryan said. “It’s overwhelming to see this many people banded together for one reason and they do it every year.

“They’re not forgotten,” she said of those who died Sept. 11, 2001.

“It’s encouraging to see how many people are sticking together for one cause,” DiNicola added.

As the group pulled from the campus, Smith and the veterans groups once again gathered to see the riders off with a “Be safe” and a wave.

For more information, visit the foundation’s Web site, http://Americas911foundation.org.

Maria Smith can be reached at msmith@times-news.com.