SHANKSVILLE —
In its 10th year, the America’s 911 Foundation motorcycle ride is rolling strong.
“I haven’t had to do anything this year,” foundation co-founder Ted Sjurseth joked Friday morning as hundreds of bikers circled the Flight 93 visitors center before heading off to the Pentagon.
And that’s OK.
What Sjurseth, his wife, Lisa, and their foundation already have accomplished is enough for any one lifetime.
The foundation has awarded nearly $400,000: Some $200,000 to first responder departments and more than $150,000 in scholarship money to over 75 children of first responders. This year, Samuel Muller of Westmont Hilltop was among the $2,000 scholarship winners.
The idea was born just after Sept. 11, 2001, Sjurseth recalled.
Sjurseth is a government contractor and the feds called for all hands on deck. So he and his wife, a foundation co-founder, of Leesburg, Va., had to cancel a motorcycle trip they had planned for that week.
“My wife said, ‘Why don’t we take a bunch of bikers to New York City to help the economy?’ ” Sjurseth recalled.
Within a month, they and fellow bikers were on their way to NYC.
America’s 911 Foundation was born.
“Nobody says thank you to first responders,” Sjurseth, 49, said, describing how they decided on who would benefit from their generosity. “It’s pretty amazing if you think bikers can raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Eric Sjurseth is the third co-founder of the group. And Christa Statler of Johnstown and Rick Flick of Listie are foundation vice presidents.
The National Park Service said 466 motorcycles – more than 600 participants in all
– rode by the memorial over a half hour Friday. Sjurseth said the cyclists would drive to the Pentagon on Friday, then move on to New York City today. Country music star Mark Wills also is part of the 455-mile ride.
Doris Krischke and her son, James, 16, of Pacifica, Calif., arrived at the memorial Friday by car.
She said James – when he was 7 – became frightened when an airplane flew by their home just after 9/11. As a mother, she said, that stays with you.
“I just feel such a connection,” Krischke said. “It was such a tragic day. It’s still very emotional for me.”
She said she doesn’t want Americans to forget that day.
“And Californians are starting to forget,” she said.
She said she had flown that very flight, United 93 from New York to San Francisco, on business before the terrorist attacks.
Local News
Related Photos
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Motorcyclists with the America’s 911 Foundation ride on Friday visit the Flight 93 memorial site near Shanksville. Todd Berkey
Discussion
A life of its own
America’s 911 Foundation roars through
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