Scores of bikers ride through D.C. for 9-11 event

On Saturday, hundreds of bikers ventured through the D.C. area for America's 9-11 Ride, which is organized to remember those who died in the September 11 attacks. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Biker waits for the memorial ride to begin at the Pentagon on Saturday. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Each year, "America's 9-11 Ride" is held to remember those who died in the September 11 attacks. On Saturday, hundreds of bikers rode from the Pentagon. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
"We do this as a memorial ride to remember the lives lost on [9-11], but also to support those who give their lives every day for us -- the firefighters, police and EMTs," Eric Sjurseth, of South Hills, Virginia, says.
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WASHINGTON — Each year, hundreds of motorcyclists bike through the D.C. region to remember those who died in the September 11 attacks.

This year, roughly 700 motorcyclists trekked from Shanksville, Pennsylvania — at the United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial site — to the Pentagon, then to the Ground Zero site in New York City.

The voyage — formally called “America’s 9-11 Ride,” has taken place since 2001.

Early Saturday morning, the riders gathered at the Pentagon north parking lot for the last leg of the ride. “9-11 Ride” co-founder Eric Sjurseth, of South Hills, Virginia, gave the riders some last minute tips and said a quick prayer before the group went out.

“We do this as a memorial ride to remember the lives lost on that day, but also to support those who give their lives every day for us — the firefighters, police and EMTs,” Sjurseth says.

“This ride is important,” says Richard Pinnavaia, a board member for “America’s 911 Foundation,” which organizes the ride each year.

Pinnavaia was in the second tower when the World Trade Center was hit.

“The ride represents the fact that America needs to never forget what happened on that day on American soil,” he says.

Still, Pinnavaia says he’s amazed to see so many Americans coming out to support the journey.

Pinnavaia doesn’t want people to forget September 11: “We want to keep it alive, we were attacked.”

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