There were a number of references to rain on May 6 as Team 26 trundled into Newtown.

Greeted by a welcoming crowd of nearly 100, the cyclists' celebrated arrival came following four chilly and mostly wet days on their fifth annual trek between Washington, DC, and Newtown to educate and solicit support for common sense gun legislation.

But it was the 26 riders' visible shivering along with brief downpours that spurred team leader Monte Frank and a dozen dignitaries to move quickly through a 6 pm speaking program on the steps of Edmond Town Hall.

Mark Dennis of Baltimore, Md., who did double duty lending both mobile support and moral support, called the arriving cyclists to the podium area as loud cheers and applause erupted from the generally buoyant crowd that huddled close under dozens of colorful umbrellas, or sought refuge under a tent and information station hosted by the Ben's Lighthouse nonprofit.

Newtown First Selectman and event host Pat Llodra welcomed all to the damp festivities, saying her first thought was how much she and those in attendance wished to not find themselves "in this place, at this time, for this purpose."

"We would hope with all 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," Mrs Llodra said. "We are joined in the common hope for a better, safer, kinder world - a world in which violence is less common, a world in which all our children and grandchildren, neighbors, colleagues, friends and strangers alike, can grow and thrive, feeling safe from the harm found at the end of a gun."

Referring to Team 26 as "Our bike messengers - our Pony Express on two wheels," Mrs Llodra said their annual efforts are part of a "clarion call for change" in Washington.

"As difficult as it is, let's not turn our back on the political process in Washington - let's not give up, not give in. We know that when efforts flag and diminish, they are doomed to fail. We need to keep the flame alive through efforts of such as our intrepid Pony Express, our legislators, our citizens calling for change," she concluded. "Believe in a better future. We can make a difference."

Pressing On

As Mr Frank stepped to the microphone, he looked back on the often rain soaked ride, which he recalled at times was monsoon like in its intensity. But the riders pressed on - driven as much by the memories of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy as they were by the welcoming receptions in small towns and big cities like Baltimore, Trenton, and Philadelphia.

Mr Frank was presented with a Baltimore Police patch from that department's Chief Melissa Hyatt, and he rode with it to present to Newtown Chief James Viadero to signal solidarity among law enforcement agencies that are challenged by the proliferation of firearms on their streets.

"I carried this patch in my back pocket so I could deliver it to Chief Viadero and the Newtown Police Department," he said.

He also paid special tribute to the five young junior riders who participated, as well as the team's "more senior riders," including Dr William Begg, who was the Danbury Hospital emergency room supervisor on duty the morning of 12/14.

"Let's give it up for Team 26," Mr Frank said, eliciting more thunderous applause. "I have hope because of this community, which has sowed the seeds of change - ride on, ride, on, ride on!"

Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty both offered words of encouragement and challenge.

"We are not going away, we are not giving up, we are not giving in. We will win this fight against gun violence," Sen Blumenthal said. "Newtown and Sandy Hook epitomize the best in America in your strength, your support, your grace and dignity - especially those loved ones and families of the 26, those beautiful children lost on that day."

"Here we are again - year five. That's a little sobering,"

Rep Esty said, eschewing negative references to the rain that suddenly intensified over the crowd. "This is the rain of hope, of perseverance, of knowing American Democracy is way too great to let any president, any gun lobby, or recalcitrant legislators to stand in the way of what we know to be right and true. We will ride however long it takes; this team will go on as long as it takes; we are Americans, we are Newtown - we never give up, we never surrender, and we will win."Inspiring Survivors

Francine and David Wheeler, who lost their son Ben on 12/14, were joined by local musician Jim Allyn. Before Ms Wheeler joined Mr Allyn on the original song he wrote called "Lighthouse," Mr Wheeler's voice rose over the hushed crowd.

"This is the fifth time, and it's hard to fathom that we need another event like this - four-and-a-half years after our children and educators were so brutally taken from us," Mr Wheeler said, adding that he found some hope in the empty, exaggerated, and speculative bombast of gun rights proponents. "My argument... our argument is about a mile from here buried in our village cemetery. My argument will be there forever, marked with a piece of Connecticut granite."

Sandy Hook staffer Abbey Clements appealed to attendees to join advocates who continue fighting the powerful gun lobby in Washington, and legislation that in part would expand reciprocity across all 50 states for holders of concealed carry permits.

"We've got their backs and we will not back down," she said. "In real life, a good guy with a gun rarely stops a bad guy with a gun, no matter what the NRA leadership tells us. These bills are reckless."

Mary Ann Jacob paid tribute to Team 26, saying the riders have chosen to "honor with action."

"I am so grateful for the work they have done," she said. "This is not a political issue, this is a public safety issue. Standing before you are members of the Sandy Hook School Educators for Gun Sense - these brave, wonderful women I work with. Make no mistake, they were the first responders that day. They are all survivors of the shooting, and like Team 26, we have chosen a path of action and advocacy. We urge you to join us."

Calls To Action

The speaking program wrapped with words from Peekskill, N.Y., council member Andre Rainey, Andy Pelosi of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, Jonathan Perloe of Connecticut Against Gun Violence, and Newtown resident Po Murray representing the Newtown Action Alliance, who brought two junior alliance members to help call for continued support and advocacy of common sense gun legislation.

The program closed with the Reverend Matthew Crebbin of Newtown Congregational Church, who conveyed a benediction on Team 26 and their supporters.

Following the welcoming event, Mr Frank spoke to The Newtown Bee, looking back on several high points of this year's journey.

"Our press conference in DC included [House Minority] Leader Nancy Pelosi," he said. "And we gave her a jersey and made her an honorary member of Team 26. She took the jersey to her weekly press briefing and spent the first two minutes talking about Team 26, our community, and her commitment to fight to reduce gun violence."

As Team 26 rode into Trenton, N.J., for the first time, Mr Frank said the cyclists were greeted by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, mothers of victims of gun violence, Francine Wheeler's brother on behalf of Ben's Lighthouse, and many motivated activists. As they made their way to Morristown, he said Team 26 rode for five miles with Carolyn Tuft, a survivor who buried her daughter following a mass shooting at Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2007.

"Once again, Team 26 rode through horrific conditions to deliver Newtown's message of peace, hope, and love," Mr Frank said. "We stopped in small towns, and in big cities like Baltimore, Trenton, and Philadelphia. People are tired of the gun violence and ready to work to reduce it."