by Richard Rhinehart
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, May 2, 2014 – Under mostly sunny skies and mild spring temperatures, 130 injured veterans joined with 370 able-bodied riders for the 110-mile, two day Face of America bicycle and hand cycle ride from national non-profit World T.E.A.M. Sports April 26-27.
Riders finish the 2014 Face of America ride at Gettysburg’s AllStar Expo Complex. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
Ending in this historic southern Pennsylvania community, the participating injured veterans received a heartfelt welcome from several hundred spectators. Entering the AllStar Expo Complex at the Eisenhower Hotel underneath a mammoth American flag hung by the Gettysburg Fire Department, the riders celebrated their accomplishment with cheers and big smiles.
The 12th Face of America ride included participants from 35 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Denmark who rode together from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia to Gettysburg. Through fund raising efforts by participants and supporting sponsorships by corporations and partners, more than $435,000 was raised to cover the costs of the participating injured veterans and to fund upcoming inclusive sporting events from the non-profit.
Riders depart Arlington, Virginia on their 110 mile, two day ride. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
With rider participation and fund raising at their highest level for any World T.E.A.M. Sports event in more than a decade, the 2014 Face of America provided an opportunity to bring together injured veterans with active duty military, retired military and civilians for a weekend of riding the same road. Many of the injured veterans found the ride to be therapeutic, offering physical activity while meeting others and forming new support networks.
For the participating veterans, the Face of America offered various activities in addition to the ride itself. On April 25, 20 injured veterans rode from the host hotel to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial across the Potomac River. In an emotional ceremony, Vietnam veteran Bill Czyzewski of Bunker Hill, West Virginia was presented with a personalized Quilt of Honor, quilted by Marilee Heaston of Turlock, California.
On Friday evening, Navy Cmdr. Kim House, a Chaplain who manages all Coast Guard reserve Chaplains, provided the Benediction for the annual Face of America banquet. This year’s dinner included the introduction of many of the veterans who will ride this June’s CanAm Veterans’ Challenge.
Navy Cmdr. Kim House provides the Benediction at the Friday Face of America banquet in Arlington, Virginia. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The riders were up early Saturday morning for the journey through city streets and suburban country roads and highways north to Frederick, Maryland. Riders traveled through historic Fort Meyer from the Pentagon past the U.S. Marine Corps National Memorial into suburban Rosslyn. Once across the Key Bridge into Washington, the riders followed the Potomac River north.
Despite occasional threatening skies and gusty winds from passing thundershowers, conditions remained dry for the ride. Spirits remained high among the riders as traveled rode north through the rolling Maryland countryside, stopping for lunch at the Upper Montgomery First Station #14 in Bealsville and at three additional rest stops manned by eager volunteers. Lunch for the riders was provided by sponsor Subway of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Arriving in Frederick shortly before 4 p.m., the riders were treated to lively bluegrass music from the Gaithersburg, Maryland Flower Hill String Band. Shuttles delivered riders to Frederick hotels for overnight lodging.
On Sunday, the riders again started early, pedaling through Frederick. Following stops at the historic Loy’s Station covered bridge north of the city and Barlow Fire Company 22 near Gettysburg, the riders separated into smaller groups to ride through the historic battlefields. Regrouping south of the park with participants from the single day Gettysburg Loop ride, everyone joined together for the triumphant ride into the AllStar Expo Complex. Meeting the riders at the Complex was Pennsylvania 4th Congressional District Representative Col. Scott Perry. A member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard who served in Iraq in 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Col. Perry offered the riders a few words upon arrival.
En route to the Key Bridge across the Potomac River, the Face of America passes through Rosslyn, Virginia. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The 2014 Face of America Ride was supported through sponsorships from Capital One Bank, Booz Allen Hamilton, Benson Botsford LLC, Exit 10, FootStomp.com, Deven’s Recycling, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Freshbikes, General Electric, Penske Truck Rental, Subway of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Three Wire Systems LLC, Vedder Price and Veterans Corps of America.
About World T.E.A.M. Sports
World T.E.A.M. Sports is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered in North Carolina and headquartered in Holbrook, New York. Since 1993, World T.E.A.M. Sports has organized athletic events for disabled and able bodied citizens – mountain climbing, white water rafting, biking, and more. Four things always happen at our events: (1) Disabled participants build self-confidence and physical fitness; (2) The disabled provide a role model for other disabled citizens, encouraging them to take up physical activities; (3) The disabled become a moving inspiration to other participants and to spectators when they see that disabled individuals can meet challenges beyond anyone’s imagination; and (4) The disabled and able-bodied participants learn to work as a team to overcome those challenges. World T.E.A.M. Sports changes lives through sports.
On Friday, Face of America riders visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for a special presentation for veteran Bill Czyzewski. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
This year’s silent auction featured several top quality items, including bicycles. World T.E.A.M. Sports’ Kimberly Warpinski watches over the items Friday evening. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The Friday Face of America banquet in Arlington featured a pre-ride safety briefing. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
Injured veterans lead the way as the riders depart a Maryland rest stop on Saturday. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The scenic Furnace Ford Bridge, constructed in 1931, was one of the highlights of the Saturday ride. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The Flower Hill String Band provided lively bluegrass music Saturday afternoon at the Face of America ride finish in Frederick. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The scenic Loy’s Station Covered Bridge north of Frederick is a popular rest stop on Sunday morning. David Rhinehart photograph.
Paul Tyler (left) of Fidelity Guaranty & Life talks with Col. Gregory Gadson on Sunday of the Face of America ride. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
The AllStar Expo Complex in Gettysburg hosted the finish of the 2014 Face of America ride. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
World T.E.A.M. Sports CEO Van Brinson presents Pennsylvania 4th Congressional District Representative Col. Scott Perry with a Face of America jersey on Sunday. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
Injured veteran and Chaplain Rickey Bennett of Aurora, Colorado provides the Benediction at the closure of the ceremonies at the Gettysburg finish. Richard Rhinehart photograph.
Footstomp sponsored a gala lunch at the Face of America finish in Gettysburg. Included were a huge variety of desserts from Gettysburg volunteers, filling tables with sweets. Richard Rhinehart photograph.