Soldier Ride, an event conceived in an Amagansett bar that grew into a nationwide effort to raise awareness of and money for wounded veterans, will once again return to its roots on Saturday, when veterans are joined by community members for the annual ride from Amagansett to Sag Harbor and back.
The Amagansett ride will be the third this week. The first takes place today between Manhattan and Coney Island. The second, tomorrow, begins in Babylon and ends at Jones Beach. On the South Fork, riders will set out at 9 a.m. from the Amagansett Fire Department, head to Marine Park in Sag Harbor, and then return to the Fire Department for a barbecue. Advance registration is $100 for adults and $40 for children at bit.ly/4plOK1f. There are discounts for active duty military, veterans, and students. Same-day registration, which is welcomed and even encouraged, begins at 7 a.m. at the firehouse. Proceeds support the Wounded Warrior Project.
After an opening ceremony at 8:45 a.m., wounded veterans lead the group of cyclists on the 25-mile route.
The ride was the brainchild of Chris Carney, Peter Honerkamp, and Nick Kraus, who came up with it at the Stephen Talkhouse in 2004. Mr. Honerkamp is an owner of the bar and music venue, and Mr. Carney and Mr. Kraus both worked there at the time. While none of them had served in the armed forces, they felt compelled to do something to help veterans, particularly those returning from the Iraq War. The three founders wanted to make sure that these veterans didn’t experience the same less-than-welcoming reception that many Vietnam veterans had received.
And, said Mr. Carney, “We have to be in it for the long haul for them in terms of support, not just when they get home.”
The idea was for Mr. Carney to bike the 4,300 miles from Amagansett to San Diego to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit founded in 2003 to help post-9/11 veterans navigate life after serving, and to bring attention to the cause.
Inspired by Mr. Carney’s efforts, two veterans — a single-leg amputee and a double-leg amputee — joined him for the last section of his trip. When he arrived in San Diego, the three of them were already starting to plan for next year.
Soldier Ride grew to attract cyclists from across the country, with events held in communities all over the U.S., and eventually transitioned from being just a fund-raising effort to a community-building event for veterans.
“It’s one thing for an able-bodied person to say you’re going to be all right, but when you have another soldier who’s literally walking the road that you’re walking. It’s much more impactful,” said Mr. Carney.
“At the beginning, some of them may be in their own shell, they don’t want to communicate with anybody. By the end of the ride, they’re exchanging numbers, ‘Let’s get in contact, we’ll cycle together,’ and you really see a benefit to it all,” said John Hynan, a longtime volunteer.
The ride is also meant to encourage non-veterans to think about veterans issues and to show support for those who have served.
Marc Zand, a part-time Springs resident, has been taking part in Soldier Ride for the past five years. His son, Zac Zand, has been doing it with him for the past three. They will both be participating on Saturday.
“Each year I did it, I started getting to meet some of the veterans and the organizers and it took on more meaning for me to raise awareness and consciousness about some of the challenges veterans face,” the older Mr. Zand said.
After leaving the Amagansett Fire Department grounds on Saturday, participants will head down Main Street/Route 27 to Egypt Lane in East Hampton, then to David’s Lane, East Hampton Main Street, Newtown Lane and onward down Long Lane to Stephen Hand’s Path. They’ll then make their way to Sag Harbor along Route 114, taking side streets to Marine Park on Bay Street. They return along Route 114, heading onto Dunemere and then Further Lanes in East Hampton to Indian Wells Highway, Bluff Road, Atlantic Avenue, and finally back to the firehouse. There are no road closures scheduled, but East Hampton Town police have advised drivers that “significant delays are anticipated on Montauk Highway in Amagansett, Stephen Hand’s Path, State Route 114, and roads leading into Sag Harbor Village during the morning hours” and urged them to use alternate routes.
