Colorado Fallen Fighter Memorial Ride - 2002

Maybe you saw this in the Sunday Denver Post paper 9/22/02. 

 I started out with a call telling us that no volunteers are invited; but I thought, "Hey, I'm a firefighter biker!", so I went anyway. I didn't even let the temp. of 25 degrees scare me from this ride. We all gather in Lakewood at the Colorado fallen fighter memorial where I met Mrs. Feasle (whose husband "Ray" died directing traffic in N.J. for the long run from here to ground zero, D.C., Penn. and back). 

About 900 to 1000 "Firefighter Bikers" then left for Colorado Springs 70 miles away. At almost every overpass, there was Fire trucks saluting us along the way. We stage at the dog track in the Springs where Pike's Peak Harley feed us an early lunch. Now it's off to parade thru the streets of downtown CO Springs where we are honored by the crowd. We reach memorial park with about 10,000 people showing up there to honor the fallen firefighter in the line of duty. This was about half of was expected to attend (this year was to be very big, since last year's ride was only 4 days after 9/11 and many NY firefighters and family was to be there). Since half the crowd didn't show it must have been the drinkers with a local bar down there having 88 kegs of beer left over. Groups in attendance where "Wind & Fire", "Fire Bikers", "Fire Brothers, "Dragon slayers", and "Fire HOGs" among others. Fallen Firefighter's Memorial Wall is similar to the Vietnam Wall in D.C. . Seeing grown men touching the Wall and crying (which was understandable) along with me not being a paid firefighter was a little to much for me, so I left on my own. But as the Terminator would say, "I'll be back NEXT YEAR!" .

Webmaster's note: 

Here are three related stories by the Denver Post: 

We're forever in your debt - Sept, 22, 2002 (Denver Post)
Family of New York firefighter who loved Colorado is grateful - Sept, 22, 2002 (Denver Post)
Names of honored fallen firefighters - Sept, 22, 2002 (Denver Post)

Twig
HOG Chapter Historian

Webmaster's note: To see a related story  click here. (http://www.firehouse.com/worcester/colo2.html)