Veterans Day bike tour in Pittsburgh rides on despite the rain
Rainy weather wasn’t going to put the brakes on for these cyclists.
The 20-mile ride Wednesday — Veterans Day — went on as planned with a few adjustments.
The first Veterans Day Bike Tour was to include stops at the Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — all on Pittsburgh’s North Side — and the memorial honoring Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. John D. Kelly in Homestead.
At each site, there was to be a short speech.
Because of the rain, Pittsburgh Hires Veterans, which organized the ride, decided to have opening remarks at the World War II Memorial where the ride began and a closing speech at the Homestead memorial. The route took riders past the other memorials.
The event was sponsored by Highmark Health. Money raised from the tour will go directly to support Pittsburgh Hires Veterans.
Founded by Vietnam Veteran and former Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner, who was also a state senator, the organization serves veterans in a 12-county region within Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Most of the course for the 50 riders was along the city’s bike trails. They plan to make it an annual event, said Dayna Brown, executive director of Pittsburgh Hires Veterans, an organization that helps military veterans by providing education, training and employment assistance.
“People who have served our country have been through much worse than this rain,” said Brown, who also is a bike rider. “The weather is part of the adventure.”
Army Capt. Frederic B. Sargent of Squirrel Hill, who was shot in the left hand and left leg in Vietnam and spent months in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, addressed the riders.
“Most of us who went to Vietnam didn’t know where it was on a map,” he said. “Many had our lives changed forever. Many didn’t come back. This is a day to remember and contemplate what they did. I imagine some of them if they were here would get on their bicycles and ride with you.”
Using a hand-cycle, David Gifford of Beechview said what Pittsburgh Hires Veterans does is “pretty awesome.” The Army veteran was paralyzed when he was hit by a car on his motorcycle in an accident in 2013.
“So many events have been canceled, I was happy to hear this one wasn’t,” he said. “Helping veterans is always a positive thing to do, especially on Veterans Day.”
The rain almost kept Tom Blaha of Shaler from participating, but thoughts of his late father, Tom, who served in the Navy in the Korean War, got him on the bike.
“I am glad I didn’t stay home,” he said. “This is important. And the rain isn’t too bad.”
Maj. Gen. Thomas Jones from Illinois, a Marine for 36 years and founder of Outdoor Odyssey, an organization to help and mentor youths in need, said assisting veterans with employment is such an important part of the transition from military life, especially in 2020. He joined the service after his college roommate was killed in Vietnam. His organization helped inspire Pittsburgh Hires Veterans.
“We have a lot of challenges in front of us,” he told the bike riders. “There is so much divisiveness in our country. This is more important than your political party or your branch of service. Veterans Day is about all of us as Americans.”
It’s also about sacrifice, said John P. Kelly of Jefferson Hills, an Army veteran. He spoke at the memorial honoring Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. John D. Kelly (no relation) with his medical service dog, a German Shepherd named Ranger, from Guardian Angels, by his side.
“What Pittsburgh Hires Veterans does is change the lives of veterans,” John P. Kelly said. “Veterans need empathy and a continuum of care. Every veteran’s experience is unique. I was drowning slowly, but now I have Ranger and a wife and two sons who support me. It’s crucial to provide veterans with what they need.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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