Until you have rode the Unity Tour, you will never know the fears, tears and cheers that collide when the ride comes into the National Law Enforcement Memorial.

Survivor families are holding up signs, waiting to meet the officer who rode for their loved one. Fans line up to high-five every single rider – 2,000-plus in 2016. Riders have their Go-Pros attached to capture these annual once-in-a-lifetime moments. The procession continues for nearly an hour and it’ s easy to see how this is personal for every law enforcement person who rides.

Many are like NJ State PBA Special Projects Coordinator and Retired Second Vice-President John Hulse who every time he has completed the Tour wheels to the spot where his good friend, Port Authority Local 116 Officer Paul Laszczynski, is inscribed on the Memorial Wall. Perhaps the greatest indicator of the Tour’ s growth is how significant the finish has become.

“ The first time I rode was the second year of the Tour and there was maybe a handful of people at the finish,” reveals past NJ State PBA President Tony Wieners.“ Then, I rode again on the 10th anniversary and the streets were lined with people. I’ ll

never get over that feeling. It was absolutely amazing.”

The feeling from three days of pedaling that has every muscle in your body aching completely dissipates when seeing the last four blocks lined with spectators cheering as if you are streaking toward the end zone to score the game-winning touchdown. In the Super Bowl.

“ I wasn’ t really prepared for family members holding up signs that say,‘ Thanks for riding for my dad,’” admits Amanda Linklater, a retired Grand Rapids Officer who now works as the Tour’ s Director of Member Services and has ridden more than 10 times.“ I remember the first time people told me the whole way down what it was going to be like. You still can’ t fathom the emotion that runs through when you get there.”

And there’ s a definite reward waiting for riders when they get there.

“ The feeling is awesome having just ridden all those miles and in the back of your mind you’ re thinking why you did it,” says multi-year rider Mike Pellegrino, the Ewing Local 111 State Delegate.“ You did it for the officers who gave everything, and the only thing you can do is give them a little something back by completing the Tour.”

his second Unity Tour, Executive Director Harry Phillips told the former Local 168 member that he must be a“ very slow learner.”

“ He said‘ you haven’ t learned your lesson,’” Cheney related. After all, his first ride 14 years ago has since been dubbed the“ Ride from Hell.”

“ It was chaos,” Cheney described of the route that traversed a hillier terrain than what riders run today back in 2002.“ It was a free-for-all coming down( the hills). There was no grouping as riders were flying down this hill. I thought if I catch something wrong, I’ m dead.”

At one point Cheney, who now serves as the Chapter 10 president, found himself at the peak of yet another hill, with the night’ s hotel in clear line of sight.

“ I thought to myself,‘ it’ s right there,’” Cheney remembered. But alas, like a mirage, the hotel eluded him by another five miles, and countless more chaotic hills from hell.

While the Police Unity Tour is reaching the 20-year mark, Chapter 37 New York is celebrating its own 15-year anniversary – one born out of the ashes of 9-11.

Formed in 2002 for the first Unity Tour following the Sept. 11 attacks, the chapter was named for the 37 Port Authority Police Department( PAPD) officers and Local 116 members killed that day.

“ We made a commitment to ourselves and the chapter that we would always begin our Tour at the World Trade Center,” emphasized Chapter 37 President Robert Egbert.“ Fortunately with the help of the PAPD and now the 9-11 Memorial, they’ ve always done everything they can to help us keep that promise.”

The first ride following 9-11 started with officers from Chapter 1 rolling from Florham Park to the World Trade Center site. Ewing Township Local 111 State Delegate Mike Pellegrino was part of that ride and says he is still moved by what he saw when coming up on Ground Zero for the first time.

“ It was something you can’ t even fathom – a blank space,” Pellegrino explains.“ You felt like you wanted to try to do something, but all you can do is stand in awe and remember. It was a surreal moment.”

Now, every year the ride begins with a ceremony at Ground Zero that features the PAPD Pipe and Drum Band and Honor Guard, along with speeches from dignitaries. A memorial roll call of the 72 New York law enforcement officers killed also is read.( These officers’ names are engraved together on line 23 of panels 9 through 22 of the Memorial’ s west wall.)

“ It’ s a bit of a novelty to do what we do but it’ s deeply personal for us,” Egbert explained.“ We were there and had the buildings fall on us. We’ re survivors of that. I can’ t think of a better place other than( Ground Zero) to hold a ceremony honoring fallen police officers when you understand( 9-11) was the most tragic day in U. S. police history.”

www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ MAY 2016 29