Wounded Service Members to Bicycle Through Key West / Public Invited to Ride Along After

 

NAS KEY WEST, Fla. – Key West residents have the opportunity to offer approximately 60 combat-wounded service members a real welcome home as the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride will visit Key West Sunday, Jan. 12.

Naval Air Station Key West, Military Affairs Committee (MAC) Key West and the City of Key West are hosting this group of heroes as they bicycle from Boca Chica Field at 10:30 a.m. continuing through Key West to the Truman Waterfront, to arrive at noon, where the warriors will be met with a welcoming ceremony. The public is encouraged to line the streets leading to the waterfront to cheer on these warriors, many of whom have just been released from the hospital for serious injuries they sustained during combat. The public will also have a chance to meet these heroes at the ceremony, which will feature a full honor guard and Key West City Mayor Craig Cates and military leaders welcoming the service members to Key West.

The route will take the warriors down U.S. 1 to South Roosevelt Blvd., along Smathers Beach to Atlantic, and then they’ll ride down White Street to Eaton, down Simonton toward Front, then onto Duval to Southard Street, which takes them to museum ship USCGC Ingham.

After the welcoming ceremony, the public is invited to ride with the veterans on the “Red, White and Blue Ride,” which will help to raise funds for Wounded Warrior Project. The charity ride is $20 and registration for the ride is at the Truman Waterfront Sunday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Soldier Ride provides cycling opportunities across the country to help wounded warriors restore their physical and emotional well-being. They participate in these bike events not only as a form of rehabilitation but also to send their message of courage and hope.

For more information, call NAS Key West Public Affairs at (305) 293-2027 or MAC’s Jerry Hughes at (305) 240-1136.