JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Friday morning, more than 40 veterans rode 18 miles through the streets of Jacksonville as part of this year’s Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride.
The ride started at 9:30 a.m. and lasted about two hours.
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“For these warriors today, many of them, they’re not from Jacksonville, they’re from all over the country, one from Puerto Rico today. So they’re going to see what a grateful nation looks like,” Wounded Warrior Project CEO Walt Piatt said as he prepared to ride with them.
Over 50 people attended to cheer on the riders as they boarded buses at the Wounded Warrior Facility.
While some weren’t from the area, there were plenty that were and from surrounding areas like Staff Sergent Karlton Berry, who’s a rider himself, but participating in his first-ever Soldier ride.
“I hadn’t had any other real opportunities in Florida to ride, especially with other veterans. So it definitely means a lot being able to come out with fellow veterans and then get together have some camaraderie,” Berry said.
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Piatt said this ride goes beyond 18 miles.
“Because many warriors, it’s hard to come home from war. It shouldn’t be harder to come home than it is to go, but it is. And so these warriors, this is part of their journey. This is part of their healing. So movement is powerful medicine,” Piatt said.
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Santiago Otero said this is a constant in his healing journey.
“It helps you out with depression. It helps you out to manage your anxiety and help with your whole well-being. So getting out there, getting out with the nature the sun, it helps you out to manage and cope with you well-being,” Otero said.
The ride will continue on Saturday in St. Augustine where veterans will ride another 18 miles throughout the area, including the Bridge of Lions 2010 A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway.
The Jacksonville ride is a smaller one compared to the bigger ones that are held in D.C., Chicago, New York and Miami.
