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Bicyclists participating in the
10th Annual Gold Star Families Memorial Bike Ride passed through
Logan County on Thursday, September 24th, making stops in Lincoln
and Atlanta.
In Lincoln the stop was made at the Museum of Route 66 and in
Atlanta at the American Giants Museum. At each stop, the riders had
the chance to take a snack break, use facilities, stretch their legs
a bit, interact with spectators and enjoy the sites.
The caravan of cyclists included a staging team that arrives ahead
of time to help set up snack tables, put out commemorative signs
honoring fallen heroes in the region, and establish a safe parking
area for the bikers. In Lincoln that parking area was along the east
side of the museum where the super-sized Abraham Lincoln penny
resides.
With this year’s riders is a
delegation from Poland. According to one of the volunteer stagers,
the Polish delegation represents the alliance between the United
States and Poland that dates back to 1946.
As the time approached for the
bikes to come into town, stagers stood along Broadway Street with
signs pointing the way for the caravan of motor vehicles as well as
the parking spot for the bikers. As they came in, they were
immediately taken by the super-large penny with many of them having
to do “selfies” or have fellow riders snap their picture at the foot
of the penny.
Then it was on to the front of the
museum for fresh water, snacks of meats, cheeses, and fresh fruit.
Several also went inside the museum to take advantage of the
facilities, then look around a bit at the interactive displays
depicting life on Route 66. Several also visited the gift shop and
made purchases of items to remind them of their brief visit to
Lincoln.
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According to their website the
bike ride dubbed the GS 500 is a five-day, 500 plus mile
endurance ride. It began on September 21st at 5 p.m. in Chester,
Illinois with a mandatory orientation. Then the first leg of the
ride took place on the 22nd, going from Chester to Granite City,
with stops along the way. The next day went from Granite City to
Virden. Ride day three was from Virden to Bloomington and
included the stops in Lincoln and Atlanta. The fourth ride day
was from Bloomington to Plainfield, and the final day from
Plainfield to Streamwood.
Before leaving Lincoln, the entire group gathered for a photo
around the penny with the city of Lincoln Assistant Director
Lexi Groves joining.
Then the group gathered their bikes
and moved to line up in front of the vehicles accompanying them,
where they observed a recitation of the names of solders within this
central Illinois region who lost their lives during active duty.
Then the group participated in the ride motto “Always Remember!
Never Forget!” With that completed the group took off on the next
stretch from Lincoln to Atlanta.
Gold Star Families Bike Ride passes through Logan County photos
slideshow
Gold
Star Families Bike Ride passes through Logan County video
[Nila Smith]
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