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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MAY 2014
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38
I remember my first ride. I got into my hotel room and my
bags were there. It’s all because of the support people. We get
all the glory, but without them, we couldn’t do any of this. If
you don’t believe me, take it from a guy who has been there
every year.
Stallone is now the voice-over the footage…
The first year, if you broke down, you had to fix it yourself and
catch up. Now, while we’re in bed in our hotel rooms, the
support team is up all night getting us ready for the next day.
Come Together
Cut to RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C, which is filled
goal-line-to-goal-line with bicycles and riders. A pack mustering at the 50-yard-line engages in a group high-five, and
out of the pack bursts Hernandez Thomas and in that deep
voice says…
Every year, riders from other states tell me, “You guys in
New Jersey have so much camaraderie. In our state, it’s
not like that.” I love this event because it brings us so
close. That’s why everybody keeps coming back. There’s so
much unity and it pumps you up. Over to you, Harry
The camera pans to find Harry in the stands with the sea of
riders behind him. He looks back at those that have come
from Chapters 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 37 and the Port Authority – 1,800 total only because there wasn’t room for any more
- then says…
After 9-11, it started to blow up with riders from New York,
California, Australia and even Israel. It’s become a blue
thing. Cops are cops no matter where you are from.
The Finishing Touch
A shot from a camera strapped to a bike on top of a hill shows
the riders stretched over the two miles leading into the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Moving toward the front of
the pack, the camera stops to get some of our stars coming to
the end. Here’s Tony…
There’s no way I could even describe this feeling. Whether
you are a spectator or rider, everybody has dark sunglasses
on to hide the tears. And everybody remembers why they are
here.
What do you think Mike Pellegrino?
I would love for every police officer to be able to do this one
time to be able to get this feeling.
What is that feeling, Mr. Colligan?
You can’t put the feeling into words. It’s very humbling and
it never gets old. I’m going to see one of the survivors, a son
or daughter holding up a picture of dad, and that is where it
ends for me.
Mark Stallone is about to finish his 17th Tour…
When I pull in, I will make eye contact with one of the survivors. They will tell me they are so grateful we are doing this
to sustain the memorial and keep their loved one’s memory alive.
And at the front of the pack about to arrive at the memorial
is Lisa Preslar…
I cry my eyes out when you see everybody along the route
clapping and thanking you. I will pull in and go down the
side where Niche is and put the flowers I have been carrying for 300 miles there. And then I realize that these four
days weren’t so tough when this is waiting for me at the end.
The camera follows the riders around the memorial until
they come to rest at the podium where the official donation
is presented. Another $1.8 million has been collected this year,
bringing the total from 18 years to nearly $26 million. And
Pat steps up to the microphone doing the “Patton” thing
again.
We are so proud of all of you for embracing those who have
been killed. You have chosen to do this ride, like you have
chosen this profession, and you are seeing all the blood,
sweat and tears culminating at a place of such dignity and
honor and sacrifice. In this waterfall of emotion, I wish I
could hug everybody that came through here today. You
look to left and right and realize they’re heroes because they
chose a career to help others before themselves. As we serve
together and remember our heroes, we are proud to ride for
those who died.
Cue the theme from “Chariots of Fire”…Fade to black. d