An incredibly important, poignant event is coming up in the New Year.
Cathy Crane, Director of Veterans Affairs for Monroe County, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5 FM this morning to talk about a big project.
The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride will come through the Keys on January 6 and 7, 2023.
Crane said, “We’re very excited to have them visit the Keys as they’ve done for the past 18 years. This is a county-wide community event which everyone actually comes out and gets to enjoy. This one is a unique event that starts in the upper Keys and travels all the way down through Marathon and into Key West.”
Participants in the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride will include 42 warriors, 12 support staff and some volunteers.
Crane said, “These warriors are veterans and active duty service members, some of them coming straight out of Walter Reed Hospital. This ride is an adaptive cycling event for injured service members to try to reclaim their confidence and their strength. It’s a worthy project to raise awareness and for them, it’s about their ability to regain that confidence. They selflessly served our country and this is their opportunity to come together and reintegrate into the society they once knew.”
The service members are from all over the country.
Mike Stapleford of KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM said, “It’s up to us to be cheering them on because they certainly are accomplishing great things. They’ve given immeasurable sacrifices for our country.”
The warriors sign up for an event in an area that appeals to them. If they are eligible in that area, then they participate.
Crane said, “The rides have actually progressed into different types of ride. They’re not anymore just a cycling event. Now they have snowboarding and different types of skiing events to try to expand the interest of the warriors coming home from war and those who served. This is to accommodate their injuries and to accommodate their interest into recovery.”
Stapleford said, “I can’t emphasize enough the need to support them as a community as they come here looking for that support. They certainly deserve all of that and more.”
US 1 will remain open for the Soldier Ride, but traffic will need to exercise caution. The ride begins Friday, January 6, at 8:30 a.m. at the Key Largo VFW and will end at Veterans Memorial Beach at Little Duck Key.
On Saturday, January 7, at 10:30 a.m. the ride will begin again at Naval Air Station Key West on Boca Chica and continue to Key West for a welcome ceremony at noon at Bayview Park. At 12:45, the warriors and the public can participate together in a guided community ride, visiting some of the historical sites in Key West and ending around 2 p.m. at Bayview Park.
The suggested donation for the community ride is $20 and it will go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Crane said, “This is a great opportunity for the community to come out. One of our major supporters of this event is the Key West International Airport. If it was not for sponsors like the airport and our supporters in the community, we wouldn’t be able to put on this ride and bring out these warriors. Over 4,000 visitors and locals come out to cheer on these riders. Our community really comes out strong in support of our military, always has, but when you see these warriors ride throughout the Keys, the inspiration that it not only gives us, but it gives these warriors. When you stretch out your hand, they’ll give you a high-five. You just see their faces and they light up and that’s the confidence that they’re looking for and they love seeing that from us and that’s how they know that we truly appreciate the freedom that they fought for.”
Stapleford said, “It’s so inspirational, so humbling. Really puts things in perspective what these warriors have gone through and continue to persevere. I can’t emphasize enough the need for the community and individuals to come out and support them.”
Crane said, “We definitely need to thank the Military Affairs Committee, Monroe County Veteran Affairs, the city of Key West, both VFW Post 10211 and VFW Post 3911 and the Chief Petty Officers Association. This is an event that takes the entire community to come out and put this event on. Marathon Fire Rescue, Islamorada Fire Rescue, Key West PD, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, all of us come together to make sure that these riders experience the true taste of the Florida Keys and they do get that from us. So thank you to everyone who comes out and supports these riders. We really do appreciate it.”
To sign up for the community ride, a tent will be up at Bayview Park by noon.
For more information, call Monroe County Veteran Affairs at 305-295-5150.