'It's a Small Way We Can Show Support for Our Neighboring Town'

Crowds gathered along Main Street in Monroe Saturday afternoon to cheer on the 3,000 motorcycles participating in the Sandy Hook Green Ribbon Ride. The charitable event raised funds for those affected by the tragic school shooting in Newtown on Dec. 14.

Town firefighters used two ladder trucks to raise a giant American Flag for the motorcade to pass under.

"It's a great event for the town of Newtown and all the first responders in general," said Stepney Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Klemish. "It's a small way we can show support for our neighboring town."  

Christine DeRubeis of Monroe and her family set up folding chairs on a patch of grass along the roadway. She came to the event with her husband, Paul, and their children Matthew, 10, Emily, 8, and Olivia, 7 — Olivia held a miniature American Flag.

"A friend of mine in Sandy Hook lost her daughter," DeRubeis said of the reason her family came to show their support. "And we came for the kids to see the motorcycles and the whole concept."

Patty Fogle of Monroe brought her daughter Jenny, 11, and Jenny's friend, Enya O'Neill, also 11. She said Jenny had seen her father participate in the CT United Ride, but this was Enya's first time seeing an event with a massive number of motorcycles.

"My husband's riding," Fogle said. "I think it's a great idea. My husband just texted me and said there are 3,000 bikes."

Riders donated a minimum of $20-per-person to participate and there was a limit of 3,000 riders.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Newtown Survivor Fund, Newtown Police Union, Newtown EMS, the five Newtown fire departments, local children's charities, The Center for Women & Families and Al's Angels.

In Newtown

Among a crowd along Route 34 in Newtown, Lisa Sheridan, a Sandy Hook resident and Newtown High School teacher, said, "To hear that so many people are supporting Newtown and Sandy Hook, how could we not come out and support them?"

"All the outpouring of love from everybody, especially when it comes from other towns, shows that [they're] still supporting us — that everybody's still thinking about us, and they want us to be strong," she added. "You know, I think that makes us all pull together and say, 'You know what? It's going to be okay. We'll keep moving on.'"

The swarm of bikes left from the corner of Howe Avenue and Cornell Street in Shelton at 11 a.m. Saturday morning and followed a police escort up Route 110 to Route 34 in Derby, Seymour, Oxford, Monroe and Newtown before making a left onto Route 25 and heading south through Monroe and Trumbull.

The bikers turned right onto Main Street in Trumbull, before ending their route at the Trumbull Westfield Mall.

Organizers and Sponsors

Fred Garrity Jr., who is executive director of the annual CT United Ride remembering 9/11, is also the director of the Green Ribbon Ride. Other ride officials include Greg Gnandt and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Assistant Chief Anthony Capozziello.

The Green Ribbon Ride is sponsored by all five Newtown Fire Departments — Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co., Hawleyville Fire Co., Botsford Fire Rescue, Newtown Hook & Ladder and the Dodgingtown Fire Co. 

The start of the ride was hosted by the Town of Shelton and its Mayor Mark Lauretti.

— Davis Dunavin contributed to this story.