On the road for 9/11 victims

The group was heading to Shanksville, Pa., today for a ceremony.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Each day, Greg Nolan toils away at the site of the former World Trade Center in New York City, rebuilding what terrorists destroyed nearly two years ago.
But for the last two weeks, Nolan and others who have worked on the disaster site are part of a group touring the United States on their motorcycles to remind Americans of that fateful day and raise money to help victims and their families.
"Those first few days at the World Trade Center there was an outpouring of love, an outpouring of patriotism that I've never felt before. It was real patriotism and people who care about their country. We don't want to lose sight of that and what America is all about," said Nolan, a foreman for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 15.
America's Ride, which started Aug. 31 in Los Angeles, rolled into New Castle around lunch time Monday.
Young and old lined the streets and cheered as about 60 bikers came downtown with a police and fire escort.
"Every town has just been unbelievable," said Jill Zorn, an event coordinator who is one of the core 35 bikers who started in California. Others have picked up the ride along the way.
Local events
The bikers spent the afternoon downtown where massages and food were made available. Later in the day, they toured Amish country on their motorcycles and headed back downtown Monday night for a special ceremony and Zambelli Fireworks Internationale display.
Nolan and his wife, Diane, hail from New Jersey, but say they felt it was important to make America's Ride and were looking forward to visiting Shanksville, Pa., today. A plane hijacked by terrorists crashed near Shanksville on Sept. 11, 2001, as passengers struggled to gain control of it.
A host of celebrities rode with the bikers at various points in the 15-city tour, including Debrah Miceli, a female professional wrestler who goes by the moniker Madusa. Cris Judd, dancer and ex-husband of actor-singer Jennifer Lopez, joined the bikers in New Castle.
"I remember Sept. 11 [2001]. I was angry. I was mad. I always felt like I needed to give something back, and this is a good, good cause," Miceli said.
Ride proceeds are going to support the World Trade Center Miracle Foundation, which was set up to help Sept. 11 victims and families.
Wants people to remember
Mark Gajewski of Long Island, who worked for six months at ground zero as a heavy equipment operator, said he decided to make America's Ride because he believes some people are forgetting about the Sept. 11 tragedy.
Jim Miller of New York worked for 10 months at ground zero providing support lighting and helping water down the dust that rose every time portions of a building were moved.
"There was a camaraderie at ground zero. People came together. It was a great way to live and a great way to work. You felt like you were part of America, building it back up," he said.
Miller said America's Ride also is about honoring the soldiers fighting in the Middle East.
"Those people [the terrorists] woke us up. We have to stay together," Miller said.
Also part of ride
Along with the bikers, two custom-built motorcycles by Titan Motorcycle Co., as well as a rolling memorial to fallen firefighters from Orange County, Calif., are part of the ride.
Arthur Camarena, owner of the rolling memorial, said he took vacation time and a leave of absence from his jobs as a firefighter for Orange County and Disneyland to be part of America's Ride.
The 1975 Seagrave Ladder Truck displays all the names of fallen California firefighters as well as the numbers of dead from the Sept. 11 attacks.
The group averages about 350 miles each day and is escorted by an ambulance at all times, said Conner Sheets of South Dakota, the road captain in charge of safety.
"We've brought a lot of exposure and awareness to 9/11. We tell people this is for the country, not just 9/11. We want to bring awareness," Sheets said.
cioffi@vindy.com