Riding to Remember on 9/11

U.S. Army SFC Sonny Triplett had just returned to Fort Bragg, N.C. from a tour in Kosovo 10 years ago when an instructor informed him that the country was under attack on Sept. 11. 

His life changed in an instant.

In the decade since the Sept. 11 attacks that killed people in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, PA, Tripllett has spent at least 50 months overseas, mainly fighting in the Iraq war.

“Times are so different now than it was 10 years ago,” said Triplett, who is stationed at Fort George G. Meade. “Long deployments are part of the military now as we fight to make sure those who were lost on 9/11 are never forgotten.”

Honoring those who died on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks was the central theme at the Harley-Davidson store in Rosedale on Sunday. There, thousands of motorcycle riders gathered for the “9/11 Ride to Remember.”

The ride took participants around I-695 before ending up at , where additional tributes, including a bell tolling, and candlelight vigil is scheduled. , a social worker and motorcycle enthusiast from Parkville, organized the event.

Vietnam War veteran Harry Jackson, 63, from Dundalk, was among the participants. Jackson, who fought in the Tet Offensive, volunteers for several veteran organizations and makes it a priority to participate in as many 9/11 memorial events as he can.

“We need to do what we can to remember those who didn’t come back following the attacks and from the wars since then,” Jackson said.

Mike Sando, of Ocean City, MD, knew months ago he would be participating in this ride. Even 10 years later, Sando is still trying to make sense of what occurred on that day. Despite all the violence and lives lost, Sando did see some good that occurred in the days and months that followed.

“The days after the attack was the only time I can recall the country being collectively united,” Sando said. “Maybe now that the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 is here we can return to a time where we put political infighting aside and work together to make this country better.”

Austin Lauerbach echoes that sentiment. The chaplain for the Christian Motorcycle Association said trying to make sense of the attacks from a faith perspective has been difficult, even 10 years later.

“Only God knows the true reason why this happened,” Lauerbach said. “Parents sometimes do things that children don’t understand and God is the ultimate father. We need to trust in him and just believe that some good can come out of all of this.”