Celebrating the moments, emotions and contributions that have led to the Unity Tour’ s 20-year roll
POLICE UNITY TOUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY
What a long, great ride it’ s been n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL AND JOSHUA SIGMUND
Celebrating the moments, emotions and contributions that have led to the Unity Tour’ s 20-year roll
NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan admits that every time he thinks about riding the Police Unity Tour he relives the moment of coming into the National Law Enforcement Memorial to see the spouses and children of the fallen officers cheering, holding up pictures of their lost loved one.
As many such moments have come out of the Unity Tour in its first 20 years as the amount of money it has raised to support the National Law Enforcement Memorial. As we celebrate the Unity Tour’ s 20th ride in 2016, we recapture some of the moments that have made the event nationally renowned.
So here are 20 defining moments of why they ride for those who died that could have happened in any of the 20 years. Or all of them.
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Finishing the first one
When Unity Tour Founder Pat Montuore departed for the first ride in 1997, he had no idea that it would still be going 20 years later, let alone what it would be like to ride your bike across several states and onto the hallowed ground of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
“ We just wanted to honor the fallen in a sporting event or something that brought camaraderie,” he described,“ and doing something not only with the energy of the individual but of the entire group.”
Well energy he found, especially when Washington, D. C. came into view following days on the road.
“ When you’ re coming in down those rolling hills and you see the Capitol come over the horizon you forget how your legs feel,” Montuore noted.
And when those founding 18 riders crossed the threshold into the Memorial for the first time, it was an experience Montuore called“ unbelievable.”
“ I can’ t describe the honor and respect and the gratitude toward all of law enforcement,” he emoted.“ The names on the Wall are more than just names; they’ re people and it’ s your career.”
NEW JERSEY COPS n MAY 2016
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It’ s all in the cars
It’ s summer 1997. Two bicycle cops, Pat Montuore of Florham Park and Harry Phillips of West Orange have come to NJ State PBA Headquarters in Woodbridge to meet with President Michael Madonna and Executive Vice-President Anthony Wieners. They are telling of this bicycle ride they just made with 16 others to Washington, D. C. for Police Week called the Police Unity Tour.
They want to make this an annual event, but they need to raise money to do so. So to get the funding that will make the Tour roll on, they have put their cars on the table.
“ We spent all our money, so we are selling these Unity Tour cars to try and raise some funds and keep it going,” Phillips, now the Tour’ s Executive Director, tells Madonna and Wieners as he holds up a Matchbox-like car painted in Unity Tour colors.
“ We thought the NJ State PBA might want to get involved,” he continues.“ We know you understand why we put this event together. You get that feeling of what it’ s like when you ride into the National Law Enforcement Memorial.”
Montuore adds:“ We have a group of people with the intensity and commitment. There’ s so many of us with the same goal to remember how thankful and blessed we are.”
Wieners stands and gets all excited. He says,“ Yes, we can be your partner on this. With your vision Pat, we can make the ride every year something that will put New Jersey on the map.”
He not only pledges to ride the tour the next year, but he and Madonna promise a donation of $ 25,000 to jumpstart the tour. The PBA has been donating the same check and more to the Tour every year since.