Patriots Ride Origin

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department
Jacksonville Fire Department
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department
St. Johns County Fire Department
HammerHead Racing Team
North Florida Bicycle Club
Cody’s Challenge Team Members
All MS150 Participants

Shortly after the tragedy of September 11th, the Cody’s Challenge Team began the design of what we hoped would be a truly patriotic jersey to honor and support the victims and heroes of that terrible day. We have completed the design and named it the Cody’s Challenge Patriots Memorial Jersey, 2002.

We intend to do a Patriots Memorial Ride on September 11, 2002 of 91.1 miles or kilometers for those who would want a shorter distance. This started as a small idea for some of us to honor the heroes & victims. It is gaining momentum and we need some idea of the number of participants who will attend. It is our intention that we start from a local fire station and ride a route that would probably take us to St. Augustine and back to that same fire station, stopping at other fire stations along the way and also stopping for a moment of prayer and silence at the precise times of the crashes. The Cody’s Memorial Jersey is available to all riders ,but must be prepaid. If you would like one of Cody’s Jerseys, please prepay your order now. All riders are invited to do this commemorative ride. We ask that everyone wear a jersey that has a stars & stripes or a red, white and blue theme (Cody’s Memorial Jersey not required). And, of course, ride safely and obey all laws and rules of the road. Bicycles are vehicles in the state of Florida and are subject to the same laws as motorized vehicles.

Cody’s Challenge has had many military service persons, police officers and firemen as members of our teams. They are our friends and our local heros and we are proud they choose to ride with us. We have just lost rider Lt. Terri Fussner, Helicopter Pilot of HSL 46, Mayport, in a crash at sea off the coast of Greece. She was on the way home after serving with the Roosevelt Battle Group. Terri will be honored on our jersey.

If you are interested in the jersey or ride please send an e-mail with yourname,address, phone number and size to pelley@codyschallenge.com or call 285-4022 and leave a message on the machine. As we progress toward 9/11 we will send or call updates to all responses. Thanks,

Rod's Remark: "Very good, Joe. Proud of you, even when you get mad with me""!