Riders Support Wounded Vets Despite Brutal Heat

More than a thousand riders and their supporters congregated at Babylon Town Hall on a sweltering morning last Friday, braving the furnace-like heat to show support for wounded veterans.

Though some cyclists bowed out at the start of the town’s third annual Solider Ride due to record high temperatures, and a handful more were affected by the high temps during the event, the 22-mile bike ride through Babylon Village to Overlook Beach still drew crowds.

The Wounded Warrior Project is a Florida-based non-profit group that raises awareness and funds for wounded soldiers, and stages various Soldier Rides throughout the country, designed to encourage and support the soldiers' rehabilitation.

The idea is to celebrate the future possibilities for those injured in war, as keynote speaker James Byler, a Huntington native and Marine Corps veteran, noted in his speech.

"It's not about mourning," said Byler, who lost both legs while on patrol in Afghanistan. "It's about celebrating."

Byler also joked about the day’s temperature, which topped the 100-degree mark as expected, by noting that "at least we're not all wearing full body armor."

The two dozen wounded Marine Corps, Air Force and Army combat veterans came from such diverse locales as Long Island, upstate New York, Ohio, England, Ireland, Israel and Gambia.

Angela Hartman, a Wounded Warrior Project staff member from Florida who helped organize the event, explained the reasons for the international presence.

"It's reciprocity," she said. "Americans go to rides in England and Israel, and they come here. The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces office headquarters is in New York, which brings a lot of the Israeli soldiers to New York rides."

Along with the servicemen and one woman, hundreds of local residents came along for the ride. Some rode as individuals, others as teams. Local police departments, private companies and other groups, including a wheelchair brigade, wore matching team jerseys.

Denis Buckley, an Amityville resident, was there with his team, Amityville Club Warriors, which regularly comes out for charity events like the Soldier Ride. The 22-member team raised more than $2,000.

Lynda Provenz, a Lindenhurst resident, felt proud to be part of what she called "such a worthy cause."

"The wounded warrior athletes brought tears to my eyes. They gave so much to protect our freedom," she said, but admitted that the heat was a major deterrent.

"It was brutal out there today. One guy got taken away by ambulance before it even started."

Town Supervisor Steve Bellone kicked off the morning's ceremony by thanking all veterans and their families for their sacrifices. Some elected officials joined the ride after the ceremonies, including Bellone and Councilwoman Jacqueline Gordon. According to town officials, $130,000 was raised for the organization.

Bellone thanked the fundraiser who raised the most money, Babylon resident Ian Romano, and also dedicated the entire ride to Jordan Haerter, a 19-year-old Marine Lance Corporal from Sag Harbor who died in 2008 while saving scores of fellow Marines. Many riders wore blue Team Jordan jerseys in his honor.

The patriotic crowd fell silent for a rendition of God Bless America by James Curry from Babylon. Residents came with flags and homemade signs reading, "You are our heroes," and other supportive sentiments.

As cars on the largely closed off Sunrise Highway drove by, beeping their support, the mass of cyclists queued up behind the starting line while the song Coming to America played.

The Babylon pipe band Saffron United then gave the honored warriors a bagpipe send-off as they began the journey to the cheers from the crowd of supporters.