9/11 Patriotic Ride and Remembrance Ceremony - 2010

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Fire Engineer for the City of Long Beach Fire Department, Gary Biggerstaff, has created an Annual 9/11 Patriotic Ride and Remembrance Ceremony to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11th.

Up until this year, Biggerstaff hosted the Remembrance Ceremony at his home where he had memorial crosses with the names of the 9/11 victims displayed in his yard, but it has grown beyond what he could accommodate there. "Last year there were over 2,000 people in attendance and since I live in a small beach community, there just wasn't room for it to grow anymore," explained Biggerstaff. This year, Gary displayed the memorial crosses in his yard the week of September 11th, and before the ride, he and his friends moved the entire memorial from his front yard to a nearby park to accommodate all the people who wanted to attend.

Biggerstaff adds, "This ride grows every year. The first year we did this, there were 55 riders. Last year there were 650 riders and I expect well over a thousand riders [this year]. This is a heart-felt tribute from me. It was just an idea to give people something to do on September 11th to make sure that they remember the victims and heroes and all the families that were left behind that day. It's just a way for people to come together and show their patriotism."

On this Patriot Day, across the country from where so many lost their lives, the ride once again exceeded expectations with approximately 1,500 motorcycles taking part in the 42 mile ride that began at Cook's Corner, a popular local restaurant and bar in Trabuco Canyon, California. For some 2010 riders, this was their first time participating in the Remembrance Ride and Ceremony. Others like Captain Dennis Edwards with the City of Newport Beach Fire Department said, "I came on the first 9/11 Ride and I've done a few of them between the first one and now. I'm glad to be here today."

Like most Americans, Edwards remembers where he was and what he was doing the morning of the September 11th attacks. "I watched the second plane hit the towers live at the fire station having my morning cup of coffee," remarked Edwards. After the tragedy, another rider, Don Marendino, retired Rigging Consultant with California Task Force 5, awaited authorization to be deployed to New York, but never got there due to the lack of air space.

The ride goes through a couple of cities and rural areas before heading into Laguna Beach for the trip up Pacific Coast Highway. Fire engines from several departments lined the route along with their firefighters. Well-wishers along the way waved flags or just waved as the ride passed. At the park before the Remembrance Ceremony, riders rode under a huge American flag.

"Nine years ago, over 400 firefighters and police officers were called on and faced their largest incident of their career. Sadly, at the end of the day, when it was all over, they had faced their last call of their lives," expressed speaker Alan Patalano, Fire Chief with the City of Long Beach Fire Department.

The ceremony brought out many emotions, especially for one ex-New Yorker who attends every year, Maria Wells. "Out of the 343 firemen, 6 of them were personal friends - one was a cousin. So it means a lot that Gary does this for us. Him having the memorial  gave me a sense of peace that I can be with my friends."

A firefighter from New York City who lost his father in the September 11th attacks feels the same way. Firefighter Christopher Howard with the City of New York Fire Department expressed, "I just think it's a little less 'in my face' and a little more laid back, which is kinda what I am looking for. I feel good because I can talk to people about my dad and tell people another story that they have probably never heard before."

Chris's father was a Port Authority Police Officer, who in 1993 on his day off, responded to the World Trade Center after the truck bombing. "...That day he repelled down an elevator shaft to an elevator that had become stuck full of school children on a class trip. He freed the children and got them to safety through a hole in the wall. Among other actions that day, he carried a pregnant woman down 23 flights of stairs on his back," Howard shared.

In 2001, Officer Howard ran to duty once again on his day off, but was struck by debris when the second tower collapsed. Howard added, "He was recovered later that day by NYPD detective Enrique Cologne, was stopped for a moment to rest, and noticed a gun sticking up from the debris. And if I could have him back, for just one day, it would have been for him to be at my graduation or so I could have talked to him about my first fire and seen the smile on his face."

Although the 9/11 Ride and Remembrance Ceremony is always free, participants were able to give donations to three charities by either buying ride t-shirts or putting money into a firefighter boot. That donated money is distributed to Long Beach Fire Department Kids, the Long Beach Firefighter's Museum and the 9/11 Rose Parade Float.

For more information about the ride visit www.remember911ride.com.

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September 11th Patriotic Ride and Remembrance Ceremony 2009

Contributors To This Story
Barbara Brooks - Reporter and Camera
Anna Sweeney - Editor
Renee Marquart - Text



Author:Barbara Brooks - Video, Renée Marquart - Text