Jim Serger, 55, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Cory Hardy, 51, of Ennis, Montana, had not seen each other in three decades since serving together overseas. In July, the pair reunited for a grueling cross‑country bicycle challenge that began in San Diego and ended in Lower Manhattan, timed to the upcoming 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Preparing for the ride
Serger, who has authored three books for the nonprofit Tunnel to Towers, spent ten months training on an indoor trainer, logging roughly 5,000 miles before hitting the roads around Cincinnati in the spring. Hardy, a city‑council member in his Montana hometown, described himself as “incredibly patriotic” and eager to honor the memory of the first‑responders and military members who served on that day.
Both men set a demanding schedule, aiming for about 170 miles per day. They carried three gallons of water each day to stay hydrated in the heat of California and Arizona, supplemented with electrolytes, energy waffles, protein bars, and “salt gummy bears.” Hardy took daily 10‑minute ice baths, and Serger reported losing six pounds during the journey, which he later regained with hearty meals in New York.
Challenges on the road
The cyclists faced 20 road closures, a fire and flooding in Colorado, two flat tires, and three bike‑shop stops. While Hardy was accustomed to high elevation from living in mountainous Montana, Serger found the altitude in Colorado especially taxing. “It was grueling…so hard,” Serger told Fox News Digital, noting that Hardy tackled the mountain sections while Serger stayed on flatter terrain.
Along the way, the veterans were welcomed by fellow service members and local residents. An Arizona state trooper drove from Phoenix to Flagstaff to meet them, and several firehouses opened their doors for overnight stays. The pair visited roughly 25 fire stations, distributing Tunnel to Towers literature and sharing stories of the September 11 heroes.
Community response
At each firehouse, EMS and police personnel, regardless of political affiliation, offered assistance, patches, hats, pins, and T‑shirts. “They’re just another American willing to put their life on the line to save people,” Hardy said.
When the riders approached sites of the 9/11 attacks—Shanksville, the Pentagon, and New York City—the emotional impact deepened. Firefighters recounted personal losses, and the veterans felt they had reached the “epicenter of how people responded to those terrorist attacks.” At the Pentagon, they received a police escort and a five‑hour tour that included the 9/11 memorial.
Arrival in New York
After 20 days, the cyclists arrived at the FDNY Ten House across from Ground Zero. They were greeted by the FDNY, Port Authority, and NYPD Honor Guard, as well as Serger’s wife, who flew in for the moment. Former FDNY Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano was also present. “I started crying,” Serger recalled, describing the scene as “very, very moving.”
The journey has raised more than $17,000 for Tunnel to Towers, with the veterans hoping the effort will keep the memory of the sacrifices made on September 11 alive as the 25th anniversary approaches. “We never forget 9/11,” Serger said. “We never forget the sacrifice of our heroes, of our military, our first responders and gold‑star families.”
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
