By Rosanny Crumpton
Honor the Warriors, a local nonprofit organization, completed their 15th annual two-day biking event in October — engaging with the community while celebrating veterans.
Day one of the event was a 16-mile ride that began and ended at Eastway Park with a ride through Charlotte’s best-known landmarks. Riders enjoyed the love and cheers, making stops along the way and receiving an outpouring of support. Construction crews, city workers and other professionals from businesses uptown waved as riders were escorted by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff Department.
Jerry Morris, Honor the Warrior’s executive director, explained the remarkable feeling when he first realized what the unexpected sound was one year during the ride. “We’re going under 277 and you have all that traffic noise, but there’s something else — like a roar. Once we got under 277, it’s the kids greeting us. They set up such a noise just cheering and clapping,” Morris said.
The roar was from elementary students at First Ward Creative Arts Academy. Veteran riders stopped to greet the children and answer their questions while the kids examined their bikes before continuing their race.
Day two of the race started at Arlington Baptist Church in Mint Hill and offered three route options for riders: 17 miles, 34 miles or the 68-mile route. Depending on the route, participants rode through Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus or Anson counties with rest stops along the way for snacks, drinks, and restroom visit. At the finish line, there was a hot lunch waiting for them. The Mint Hill Women’s Club supports the annual event and the organization.
Honor the Warriors started around a kitchen table with the goal to encourage veterans to get outside and interact with other veterans and community members.
Tony Hawkins, Honor the Warriors rider and veteran, shared that an average of 24 vets a day commit suicide. He described getting off the couch, out of the house and being able to move himself on the bike with conviction as world changing.
Tony was in a wheelchair for 15 years. He started as a rider on a handcycle. About 9 months ago, he was told his bone health had improved and he’s now able to use leg strength. He traded his handcycle for a tricycle and has been using one ever since. He rode 562 miles this past year.
Paul Belk, a fellow HTW rider and vet, similarly started out as a hand cyclist. He fell in love with riding and obtained a hand cycle from the V.A. “Somewhere along the way, I found out that I could strap my feet onto the pedals, and I could pedal with my legs and that changed my world,” Belk said. “Last year was my most successful riding year, I rode the 34-mile racecourse in 2 hours.”
“[Riding with Honor the Warriors] is mentally freeing and it’s physically good for you, Belk added. “That’s the power behind this program. Being accustomed to physical workouts as a soldier in the military service, you’re used to the edge. When you get injured, that edge dies or dulls. This revives that.”
“What I always enjoy about this group is our shared experience no matter what era. I’m a Cold Warrior. We have Desert Storm vets, and no matter what era, you have this common bond and common language and common respect for one another because of what we’ve all accomplished,” said Ellen Houlihan, a fellow veteran and Honor the Warriors rider.
While obtaining equipment can be a cumbersome, lengthy process and cost anywhere between $1,500 for a basic tricycle to $12,000 for a customized one, Honor the Warriors makes it easy with their leasing program that consists yearly donation from the veteran leaser.
Jane Morris, wife of Jerry Morris, explained that everybody in the organization is a volunteer. There are no paid positions. They operate 100% by donations. “Jane and Jerry are the heart,” Tony Hawkins said about the husband-and-wife duo.
Honor the Warriors joins other organized rides every other month as part of their community building efforts. They provide lunch and pay the registration fee for Honor the Warriors riders. “New riders need support to get through it stronger,” said Jane.
It costs about $12,000 a year to hold the annual ride with money raised from sponsors, which helps lodge and host disabled vets who come to town for the event.
Funds raised by the organization also help with year-round bike repairs and helmets that the organization donates to police officers to hand out when they see a child riding a bike without a helmet.
Veterans and non-veterans are invited to join the organization’s weekly rides. They meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Harris Teeter in Brighton Park in Mint Hill, N.C. Immediately following the ride, the group enjoys a meal and fellowship at a local restaurant.
Learn more at www.honorthewarriors.org.