DULUTH: Wounded special ops team leads local cyclists 22 miles | News

DULUTH, Ga. -- Just before 8 a.m. Saturday groups of local cyclists rolled up to a team of U.S. Special Ops personnel who have covered more than 300 miles in a bike trek from Ft. Bragg to honor wounded soldiers.

The 5th Honor Ride Team and Wounded Warriors group is part of Operation One Voice and rides are held all over the nation. Operation One Voice is a program designed by police officers, firefighters and community leaders to raise funds for the immediate needs of children and families of wounded and fallen Special Operations Forces.

The ride takes on special significance because it is held just one day before the nation will mark the ten year anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Centers. 

Amid the crowd the special ops soldiers were easy to identify in their team jerseys, but soft spoken and engaging riders individually saying how happy they were with the turnout.

More than a hundred members of local cycling teams and ordinary citizens turned up on their Saturday morning as the team made the final leg of their journey to Lake Lanier Islands. The 22 mile ride brought Suwanee's Frazier Cycling team out in full force along with parents, indivdual cyclists and me. I was asked by a neighbor if I'd be interested and couldn't resist. Not only would it be the farthest I've cycled probably ever, I was one of I think two in the pack participating on a mountain bike. 

The morning was perfect--cool and controlled as members of the Duluth Police Department and other law enforcement officers in cars and motorbikes escorted us up one lane of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Along the way, business owners, drivers and utility workers cheered the crowd.

As the group entered the entrance to Lake Lanier Islands we got a visual reminder of why we all wanted to do this ride. More than a dozen white crosses shaded by flying American flags lined our final mile. Each cross bears the name of a Special Ops member who has died in the line of duty.

At the finish, no stage and loudspeakers just those wounded warriors walking among the cyclists offering their hand in thanks.

And all of us responding with, "No, thank you."