Over 15 "Freedom Riders" Set to Journey Across the Country From Atlanta to New York City as a Means of Tribute to September 11th Fallen Heroes

/PRNewswire/ -- Ask any citizen on the street and they can tell you vividly where they were when our country came under the worst attack on our homeland. Imagine being a first responder and going out to help the innocent victims of September 11th, 2001. Almost ten years to the day, a cycling tour (Freedom Ride) has been organized from Atlanta to Ground Zero to commemorate the first responders and pay tribute to the fallen heroes and their equally courageous survivors.

In 2009, on the eighth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, firefighter, Mike Palmeri of Atlanta Fire Station 21, was working the same shift he was the day of the attacks. An avid cyclist, he envisioned a ride covering more than 1,000 miles on two wheels. That vision became a reality. Now, with 15 cyclists, they have been dubbed, "The Freedom Riders." The riders are made up of both Georgia-based firefighters and public safety officers.

On Friday, August 26th, these intrepid Freedom Riders will take to their two wheels as they embark on a journey of a lifetime. A send off ceremony will take place on Cafe Street, the outdoor lobby of The Terminus Building in Buckhead, Georgia at approximately 9 am. A moment of silence will be observed at 9:11 am. The riders will continue through the city of Atlanta's Midtown and Downtown communities before heading north through Ellijay and the ominous challenges of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Every day for 16 days, the Freedom Riders will press on through weather and an average of 100 miles a day as they head for their pilgrimage goal, Ground Zero in New York City. Their "family," the American Fire Service at the end of each day's ride, will greet the Freedom Riders in every city. A solemn remembrance service, at Ground Zero, will culminate the ride on the ten-year anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2011.

For a complete list of Freedom Riders, ways to support and volunteer, please visit www.FreedomRide2011.com. Connect with the Freedom Riders on Facebook and Twitter to follow them on their journey.

Mission:
Demonstrate the American Spirit of duty, honor and country
Raise money for the Atlanta Fire Foundation