CT United Ride Passes Through Newtown

This year marked the 11th Annual CT United Ride, which has motorcyclists ride 60 miles in memory of the September 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.

As the group of more than 3,000 motorcyclists made its way along Route 25 into Monroe, it passed multiple locations where Newtowners were gathered to watch, salute, and, in some cases, cheer on the riders.

This year the parade route had the motorcyclists ride through Norwalk, Westport, Wilton, Redding, Georgetown, Bethel, Newtown, Monroe, Trumbull, Fairfield, and Bridgeport, with the route ending in Bridgeport’s Seaside Park.

According to CT United Ride, the annual event is New England’s largest 9/11 tribute.

Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company hosted members of the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire and Rescue to witness the 9/11 memorial ride.

Newtown Hook & Ladder Company and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company joined efforts outside Amaral Motors on South Main Street to observe the ride. Ladder trucks were positioned on either side of the road, displaying a 20- by 30-foot American flag under which the riders all passed. Members of Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps also joined the two fire companies at Amaral Motors to watch the procession.

Further south down Route 25, Botsford Fire Rescue also had trucks positioned on either side of the road to welcome the riders. Botsford Fire Rescue members, having recently returned from the 9/11 commemoration in Sandy Hook (see related story in this week’s Newtown Bee) remained in their dress blues and stood in line along the front of the firehouse in recognition of the riders.

As the long line of riders made its way through Newtown, traffic was diverted at times, and a police escort followed the riders along the route.

(Please visit www.NewtownBee.com, and look for this story under the Features tab, where a slide show offers a few dozen views of this year’s ride from three points along the route.)