About 3,000 ride in remembrance of 9/11

Jim Hinkley, of Southport, and Betsy Fischer, of Greenwich, ride in the 13th annual CT United Ride, the largest 9/11 Tribute in CT, in Norwalk on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. Jim Hinkley, of Southport, and Betsy Fischer, of Greenwich, ride in the 13th annual CT United Ride, the largest 9/11 Tribute in CT, in Norwalk on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. Photo: BK Angeletti, B.K. Angeletti Photo: BK Angeletti, B.K. Angeletti Image 1 of / 147 Caption Close About 3,000 ride in remembrance of 9/11 1 / 147 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT -- Riding side by side, a thundering ribbon of motorcycle riders nearly 2 miles long roared into Seaside Park Sunday afternoon, ending one of the largest charity rides in state history.

Local officials suspended the rule against motorcycles in the park, as nearly 3,000 filled the roadway and parking lots in tribute to those who died and those injured in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

There were bikes of every color and style and riders from at least four states. Among them were police officers from more than a dozen communities.

"Everybody looks for a way to embrace the American flag, and this is ours," said Fred Garrity, the executive director of the event, CT United Ride, as he gestured to the mass of riders in the park. "The object is not to raise money; it is a tribute to those who lost their lives and those who risked their lives on 9/11. This is how we don't forget."

The ride, the 13th since the terrorist attacks, began Sunday morning at the Norden Industrial Park in Norwalk, where a moment of silence was held while the Norwalk Fire Department rang a bell 11 times beneath two ladder trucks holding a 50-foot American flag.

A motorcade of more than a dozen motorcycle-mounted police officers from around the state then led the riders on a 60-mile tour through 10 Fairfield County communities as hundreds of cheering spectators lined the route.

The final leg of the ride ran from Trumbull down Park Avenue to Seaside Park. It took about 35 minutes for the line of riders to pass through the cement archway.

Earlier, Bridgeport Fire Commissioner James Meszoros, head of the city's American Legion Baseball program, had his young players line the route in the park with small American flags.

"It's the least I could do," Meszoros said with a shrug.

Eric Pardo took a break from the grill -- he was cooking for the homeless as part of an event in the park by Prospect House -- to grab a bunch of the flags from Meszoros. He began handing them out to the riders as they came through the archway.

Many of the riders began waving the flags the rest of the way to the gathering area by the park's bath house. There, tents had been set up and hamburgers and hot dogs were being served by staff members of Vazzy's restaurants.

City Director of Public Facilities Charles Carroll directed park staff to move more trash cans to the area.

"This is a great day in the city of Bridgeport," Carroll said. "I'm always happy to have the riders here, they are respectful, clean, and it's a great tribute."

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