Remembrance ride to honor fallen heroes
A local law enforcement, veteran and first responder support organization will host a ride and remembrance marking the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“Back The Blue & Green,” a three-month-old group based in Cape Coral created by residents Vincent Stephen and Jay LaGace have organized a “9/11 Remembrance Ride” and “9/11 Fallen Hero Ceremony” on Sept. 13.
The voyage — for motorcycles, trucks and cars alike — begins at 7:30 a.m. at Independence Circle in Fort Myers at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and will stretch 148 miles throughout Lee and surrounding counties, culminating at Brooks Burgers East Naples for the Fallen Hero Ceremony.
Stephen said they expect 1,000 to 3,000 bikes and vehicles. The ride will be escorted by LCSO.
“It’s incumbent upon us to keep those memories alive and to never forget,” Stephen said. “That’s the whole premise of the remembrance ride — to never forget.”
At the Fallen Hero Ceremony, the names of fallen officers lost in 2020 both in the line of duty and by suicide will be read aloud. Stephen said families of local fallen officers also will be in attendance and honored. The ceremony begins at noon.
Back The Blue & Green’s mission is support local law enforcement and Southwest Florida’s vibrant military community. The organization fundraises for and donates to “Fallen Officers: The Robert L. Zore Foundation” out of Naples and “Stop Solider Suicide” out of North Carolina.
“We’ve chose two solid organizations that people can support,” Stephen said. “It gives them a voice.”
Stephen, a retired disabled U.S. Army veteran, said he and LaGace created Back The Blue & Green due to recent visible tensions between communities and police departments — not necessarily locally, but throughout the country.
“We’re a community support organization,” said Stephen. “We were kind of frustrated with what’s going on with the defunding of the police, and said, ‘There’s something we can do that’s positive,'” Stephen said.
The main focus of the organization is to ensure fallen officers are remembered.
“These officers have to be remembered to keep the idea alive that these people risk their lives every day for us,” Stephen said. “What’s happening in America with the disrespect — not just from individuals but from governments, politicians — we have to make sure that doesn’t happen here in Southwest Florida. And the way we’re going to do that is by keeping the memory alive of those heroes that gave their life.”
This will be Back the Blue & Green’s second major event after having a successful response to their July 5th Law Enforcement Appreciation celebration at Centennial Park.
There is a $20 donation to participate in the ride with 100% of proceeds being split evenly between the two aforementioned non-profits. Organizers ask participants to purchase their tickets online prior to the event.
For more information on Back The Blue & Green and for ticket, visit backtheblueandgreen.org.
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