DANVILLE —
Bicyclists pedaled through the area Wednesday as a way to honor servicemen and women.
The group of as many as 20 bicyclists traveled along U.S. Route 150 and U.S. Route 136 as it headed through Vermilion County and into Indiana as part of the 63-day, 4,000-mile tourney across the United States called Sea to Shining Sea.
Many of the participants are former members of the military who have been injured. Some, because of their injuries, are running close to the ground using hand bicycles.
The effort, sponsored by State Farm, began at the Golden Gate Bridge in May. Bicyclists stopped overnight in Champaign-Urbana before picking up again Wednesday through Danville on their way to their next stop in Crawfordsville, Ind.
D.J. Weidler of Thomasboro is a member of the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club in International. Various club members escorted the group of bicyclists, starting on Sunday in Pekin through to the Indiana county line.
She called them an “incredible group of veterans.”
“It’s an incredible honor to escort them,” Weidler said. “What they’re doing is wonderful to recognize wounded veterans across American.
“It’s not about us. It’s about them,” she said, adding that a documentary is being done by crews from England who are following the bicyclists.
The Sea to Shining Sea effort is hosted by World T.E.A.M. Sports, a nonprofit organization. Members of the organization also participated in the effort.
According to Weidler, the bicyclists said Illinois has been one of the most patriotic states through the trip, which also crossed California, Nevada and Iowa.
“It was a warm welcome here in Illinois,” she said.
After the Wednesday night stop in Crawfordsville, Ind., the group will continue through Ohio and Pennsylvania before heading south to Washington, D.C.
According to the Sea to Shining Sea Web site, the event is intended to provide proof that disabled Americans can lead productive lives. All profits from the effort will go to other athletic events World T.E.A.M. Sports runs for disabled Americans and Soldiers’ Angels, a leading support organization for United States service personnel.
Among the supporters joining the group will be Army Brig. Gen. Arnold N. Gordon-Bray, retired Marine Corps Gen. Robert Magnus, and Ambassador Paul Bremer, who oversaw the reconstruction of Iraq from May 2003 to June 2004.
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Related Photos
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Retired Army pilot Stuart Contant of Enterprise, Ala., cycles through downtown Danville on Wednesday as part of the Sea to Shining Sea ride. The event, sponsored by State Farm, takes the bikers on a 4,000 mile trek across the United States to honor servicemen and women. Matt Huber/Commercial-News
Discussion
Veterans pedal across the county
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