Sep 7, 2010

Why I Rode a Bicycle over 3700 miles
By Thomas Heidenberger

As I was looking out over America from the cockpit of an airplane, the country I love and the country my wife loved I was struck by its beauty. From thirty-five thousand feet the rolling hills and winding roads intermixed with checkerboard wheat fields have an air of perfection, as if painted by a 19^th century impressionist. I then came upon the idea to ride my bike across the United States, at least 14 of them, to raise awareness for the September 11^th memorials. Those memorials will be in Shanksville, PA for Flight 93, New York City at the World Trade site and in Washington, D.C at the Pentagon where my life lost her life. Michele was a Senior Flight Attendant of Flight 77. The idea was to ride for 33 days with each day dedicated to the memory of one of the 33 crewmembers lost on 9/11.

This ride however is about more than my wife, it is more than about the 33 crewmembers, it’s about more than the over 3000 citizens who lost their lives that day and it’s about more than the countless families who lost loved ones that terrible day. It’s about us as a country. It’s about remembering the courage each and every American showed in moving on from the day terrorist attacked our country. It is about the spirit that carried America through two world wars, a civil war and a war for independence. It is a spirit that is seen today in the faces of the brave young men and women who defend us in the war on terror.

It has been almost five years since the attacks on this country took place; I and many more like me think it is time that we as Americans make sure these 9-11 memorials are built. All three of the memorials are in various stages of fundraising and development but none are fully funded. I don’t believe for a second that people are forgetting 9-11 or don’t intend to honor the fallen and the principles the war on terror are being fought for, but now is a time for action in making the memorials a reality. In Washington, a city of many memorials, the reality of the Pentagon Memorial came one step closer to reality: the recent ground breaking.  The ground breaking in and of itself does not assure the completion of this 9/11 memorial; the reality is that each of the 9/11 memorials are still woefully under funded and are years away from completion.

When the ride began in Los Angeles on April 2, the idea was to visit all three of the proposed memorial sites as well as stop at rallies along the way. I knew it would be emotional, especially when we stopped and talked to young men and women of our armed forces as well members of the public who simply wanted to offer us support and encouragement. The donations that have come into the web site have also been overwhelming and remind me of how much people do care and want to help. Even more moving than that though has been the outreach people have made to me personally, I can’t tell you how often I hear; “How are you, what do you need?” The support not just during the Ride but in the days and weeks after 9/11 is what makes this country so great.  We take care of each other. Were it not for this outreach over the years, I do not think that neither I nor my children could have survived. 

The idea of this “Ride Across America” started out being to remember 9-11, remember the 33 crewmembers, remember the 3000 innocent victims and help the memorials get built but it has turned into a celebration of the spirit of this country and its ability to overcome tragedy with compassion and caring for fellow Americans. A truly humbling experience. The ‘Ride’ came to a close at the Pentagon, on May 9^th, I remembered my wife, but I was also reminded of how much she loved this country and how proud she must be of it. 

Thomas Heidenberger

3909 Underwood Street

Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

240-994-6833

For more information about the Airline Ride Across America and the three 9-11 memorials please visit www.airlineride.org

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