Soldier Ride

Way back in July, I took part in Soldier Ride the Hamptons. Shortly after, I started law school, which has kept me from being able to update this blog :) So, finally, here are the pictures from the event, which, I have to say, was one of the best days of my life.

The event raised money to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, an awesome organization that helps our nation's wounded heroes. The bike ride was either 30 miles or 60 miles. I did 30 - and man, was that plenty! I rode in honor of Christopher Levi (look back a few posts and you'll see some photos from his homecoming), a wounded warrior from my hometown. The ride was held in memory of Jordan Haerter, a Marine from Sag Harbor who was killed in Iraq in April 2008.

The day started out with registration and breakfast at the American Legion Post in Amaghansett...

A shirt from the Soldier Ride event that had taken place the day before in Babylon, New York...talk about hardcore biking - two days in a row!

The organizer getting the crowd psyched...

The local fire chief presented donations that had been collected by the fire department...

And then Dan Akroyd took the stage...he rode his motorcycle with the Patriot Guard Riders that led off the ride...

The bikers getting ready to head out...

Jordan's mom shares his story...

These two young boys raised an extraordinary amount of money for their age...

And we're off - this was taking while attempting to navigate the bike...downtown Amaghansett...

This was where I realized that trying to shoot and bike at the same time probably wasn't a good idea...something was bound to get broken...although this was still about 2 miles before I realized that the guy in the bike store who checked out my bike a few days before the race was totally wrong...my bike was already broken...

This was about the point where I realized that my rear tire may not hold up for the entire race...and it certainly wasn't doing any hills...if you've ever spent time in this area of East Hampton, you will understand the problem...

The Marines from Jordan's unit, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (I believe they are known as the Walking Dead) came up from Camp Lejune to take part in the ride...they had just learned of the loss of another member of the unit overseas...

This was at the "half-way" point, where a memorial ceremony was held for Jordan...we rode across the bridge...this was the point where I realized that my bike was in really bad shape and questioned whether or not I would be able to finish the race in one piece...but then I thought, if Chris could do it, then I could finish the race...

I gave up on the bike for a little while and walked across the bridge with the 5K walkers...

In Sag Harbor Village, the ride went past Jordan's grave...

I didn't realize I had gotten this shot until after I got home and looked at the pictures...if you look closely, you can see the American flag reflecting next to the quote...

By the end of the race, I was too wiped to take any pictures. I finished last, but what sticks with me still is that I finished, and I had the opportunity to take part in a great tribute to one of our country's fallen heroes. I cannot wait to do it again this year.