GALENA — About 2100 participants, bicyclists, motorcycle police, emergency services and volunteers rolled down the street on a sunny Saturday, heading for Galena Volunteer Fire House.
They began their trip at 8 a.m. mingling with the traffic down the road from the Dogwood Festival.
These men and women are a part of the Police Unity Tour, a four-day bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, DC “to raise public awareness about law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, and to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten.”
Along with raising awareness, they also raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial and Museum, which is the final destination of their trek.
Each year, they stop at the Galena Volunteer Firehouse, for a much needed break, a lunch that their own vendors supply, and a chance to chat with the locals here.
As the Dogwood Festival was kicking off, the Chapter 1 group, the Northern New Jersey chapter, the very first group started under the name, arrived.
This year, next to Rescue Engine 3, and below an American flag supported by Tower 3 fluttering in the breeze, CEO and founder Pat Montuore gave the fire company a plaque in recognition and thanks for supporting their cause.
Director Doug Uhl accepted it on the company’s behalf alongside president Steve Bisbee.
After a few heartfelt words were exchanged, it was right back to business for the tour.
They had a long road ahead of them.
Chief Financial Officer Tim Quinn said this year they’ve raised $2 million which they’ll drop off in DC, at the museum.
From the vast sea of blue, rolling out in formation to the cheers and waves of Galena locals, it’s hard to believe that the movement and cause began with only 18 people.
Quinn pointed out that it went from that, to raising $37 million in its 28 years.
Now they have eight chapters. Some in California, some in Florida, and New Jersey and Delaware.
Each take different routes to get to DC, where they have designated stopping points. Going ahead of them is a cavalcade of police troopers on motorcycles to ensure the bikers’ safety at crossovers and block the road when needed. Emergency vehicles are on-hand so the bikers have medical support as well.
As retired state trooper, Massey native, and former rider, Cricket Beck informed, when they converge in DC the number is so enormous that people will have to get off their bikes and walk. They will be no room to do otherwise. Riders can participate in a candlelit vigil.
She showed the silver bracelet on her wrists, noting that each rider has one indicating they ride for one of those officers fallen in the line of duty. In the past, her ride was dedicated to the flight crew on Trooper 2, a medical helicopter flight that crashed on Sept. 28, 2008, taking the lives of Pilot Stephen H. Bunker, Trooper First Class/Flight Paramedic Mickey C. Lippy, and Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Medical Technician Tonya M. Mallard.
“I struggled with that but the ride helped me work out those issues,” Beck said before joining the chorus of people cheering for the riders.
That’s what it’s about.
The stops are just as important as the ride.
Case in point, that day, they made their way to state Route 213, to Centreville, stopping at Memorial Park to pay tribute to Police Officer Michael Nickerson and Deputy Sheriff Jason Schwenz, of the Queen Anne County Sheriff’s Office, who were shot and killed after responding to a noise complaint in the 300 block of Hammond Street.
Co-President/Board Member Erik Heller said the public can support their cause at info@policeunitytour.com.
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