First Selectman Pat Llodra was one of multiple people who wished Team 26 members "Godspeed" on Saturday, April 9, during a brief ceremony on Edmond Town Hall's steps.Keep tabs on Team 26 via its website or the team's Facebook page.

The 26-member bicycle team, organized by award-winning cycling enthusiast and Sandy Hook resident Monte Frank, held the ceremony before putting their feet to their pedals and making their way down Main Street, the first road on its journey to deliver its message to Washington, D.C.

Team 26's mission this year is to continue to raise awareness of America's gun violence epidemic; to support common sense legislation to reduce gun violence; and to honor the 20 children and six educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 12/14, along with all victims of gun violence throughout the nation.

A number of people spoke during the ceremony, including Mrs Llodra, Mr Frank, members of the Al-Hedaya Islamic Center of Newtown, Senator Richard Blumental, Representative Elizabeth Esty, Newtown United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Mel Kawakami, Ron Pinciaro from Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Andy Pelosi from the Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus, and Nelba Marquez-Greene, mother of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene, one of the children killed on 12/14.

Mrs Llodra spoke to the "passion of individuals" and the power of a small group of citizens to change the world.

"I wish, as do all of you, that we did not find ourselves in this place at this time for this purpose. We would hope with all of our being that the horrible, horrible tragedy of December 14, 2012, never occurred, and that we would never have had cause to come together in the first place," said Mrs Llodra. "But we cannot erase the past. We can only use what happened, integrate it somehow into who we are and how we see the world."

Newtown, Mrs Llodra said, now has a voice it did not seek or want.

"But we have that voice and with it comes an opportunity and a responsibility," Mrs Llodra said.

While everyone may not share the same vision, Mrs Llodra said the community is united in a hope for a world in which violence is less common.

The 26 "thoughtful souls" surrounding her, Mrs Llodra said, carry the message that together the community is seeking a better world. She thanked the Team 26 members for their persistence, commitment over the last four years, saying they have been constant and unwavering.

"Thank you and Godspeed," said Mrs Llodra.

Senator Blumenthal said Newtown has come to be in the forefront of seeking a better world and a safer America.

"Today we are here to resolve that we will never forget, never give up, never go away, until we have background checks and other common sense measures to stop gun violence in the United States," said Senator Blumenthal, to applause from the group gathered in the morning sun.

"We will continue this fight for as long as it takes and work just as these riders do to keep moving forward. Mile by mile, face by face, colleague by colleague, we will continue this fight."

Senator Blumenthal said congress has been complicit in the 90,000 gun deaths that have occurred since the first Team 26 ride, and said the epidemic of gun violence is "every bit a public health crises as Ebola or Zika or flu."

The team's first ride to the nation's capitol took place in March 2013.

If a health epidemic occurred with as many deaths a year as gun violence, Senator Blumenthal said, there would be drastic measures taken.

"Congress and its complicity must end," Senator Blumenthal said.

Senator Blumenthal said he, Rep Esty, and Senator Chris Murphy, who could not attend, are united and steadfast in the effort to build a movement needed for "common sense measures to ensure gun safety."

"We must win this fight to ensure a safer, better America," said Senator Blumenthal before thanking the riders.

Senator Blumenthal, Rep Esty, and Senator Murphy will meet the riders in Washington, D.C. The team is scheduled to arrive in three days, on April 12. Mr Frank later accepted a petition from the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus from Mr Pelosi. Team 26 will hand-off the petition to Senator Blumenthal, Rep Esty, and Senator Murphy to then deliver to congress.

Rep Esty said Team 26 was conceived of when hearts were torn and people were wondering what they could do.

"You have become a symbol of what is best in the American spirit, what is best in the human spirit, to respond to tragedy and evil with love and hope and commitment," said Rep Esty. "That is what Team 26 stands for."

Team 26, Rep Esty said, will ride through snow and rain over the 400 miles of their journey, representing that no matter how long it takes, "we will succeed… we will prevail."

"We can and we must to better," said Rep Esty, adding that while it is realistic to know that all violence cannot be stopped, lives can be saved.

Rep Esty said she is confident the "Connecticut effect" and the "Newtown effect" is spreading love and hope for all Americans.

"Thank you Team 26. Godspeed and safe travels, and thank you for inspiring all of us and inspiring this country," said Rep Esty.

Ms Marquez-Greene has been spreading the message of "Love Wins" through The Ana Grace Project, and spoke to that message before the crowd.

When Ms Marquez-Greene spoke, she also said she had a message to share from her family to the riders.

"Ride on," Ms Marquez-Greene read, "for the truth that will set us free. Ride on for remembering our lives as they should be. Ride on in love, confident that your voices are being heard. Ride on we see you. Ride on speaking truth to power. We see that you are advocating for justice, not just for our 26, but for the many lives taken by gun violence, and that includes seven children daily."

Ms Marquez-Greene also read a message to her daughter Ana Grace.

While Ms Marquez-Greene said she knows her daughter didn't get to live in Sandy Hook very long, she asked her to "look at all these people who haven't forgotten about you. Send your purple sparkles down towards them, and try to keep the bad weather away. We miss you. We love you dearly sweetie girl. Life will never be the same. Love, Mom."

When Mr Frank spoke he said the members of Team 26, "are your bike messengers and we will deliver."

The members of Team 26 come from a number of places, he said. They are mothers, fathers, students, teachers, doctors, husbands, and wives, Mr Frank said, and they are sharing the message that "enough is enough."

"We must reduce gun violence in the nation," said Mr Frank.

Statistically, Mr Frank said roughly 360 people will lose their lives because of a firearm between the start and the end of Team 26's journey to Washington, D.C.

While referring to a recent pole by Quinnipiac University, Mr Frank said Team 26 represents the majority of Americans who support background checks.

"We all suffer because of senseless violence," said Mr Frank.

The members of Team 26, Mr Frank said, ride to represent "our 26," along with victims of gun violence elsewhere, and they ride for peace, hope, and love.

"Let's all keep pedaling together and it will be done. Ride on," said Mr Frank.

After the ceremony the riders headed down Main Street, past supporters, including people waving and taking photos. They rode south, past the flagpole, before disappearing over the horizon of Main Street.