Riding to Remember the Patriots of Patriots Day

It’s called Patriots Day, a day when we remember not only those who perished in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but the first responders who braved the flames and fear to help their fellow man—many of whom lost their lives that day.

Now, 10 years later, Chris Harley Rupp, a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Mount Horeb, WI Fire Department, wants to make sure those first responders, particularly the firefighters, are not forgotten. Rupp felt a deep calling to perform some act of remembrance for the firefighters who gave their lives to help total strangers that day. The heroism first responders exhibited that day is one of the reasons Rupp joined the fire department when he turned 18 years old.

Rupp was 13 years old that fateful fall morning when Islamic terrorists hijacked passenger jets and turned them into missiles aimed at key economic and govenmental targets. For many Americans, Rupp included, the horror of that day left an indelible scar on the collective psyche. As a decade has slipped by, Rupp wanted to make sure people remembered not only the tragedy of that day, but also the stories of heroism.

“I just want people to remember and to know that they, too, can make a difference in times of tragedy,” said Rupp.

To raise awareness Rupp, now 23 years old, planned a 4,000 mile bicycle ride across the United States. His journey, dubbed Fire Ride: Tribute 2011, began July 18 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. From there he biked to Los Angeles, then to Las Vegas, up to Salt Lake City, down to Nebraska and across to Wheaton.

From Wheaton he is biking through Indiana and Ohio, making a stop in Shanksville, PA to pay his respects at the crash site of Flight 93, down to Washington, D.C., which will include a stop at the Pentagon and then up to New York City. Rupp’s journey will end in Manhattan on Sept. 10, just in time for the anniversary. But Rupp does not plan on taking part in any sort of ceremony. His ride, if all goes according to plan, will end quietly with a stop at Ground Zero.

“It’s not about me. I don’t want people’s focus to be on me, I want them to remember those who fell,” Rupp said.

Along the ride Rupp is sharing information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and spreading awareness about where to turn if ever a loved one answers the call of duty with his or her life.

On Aug. 26, Rupp stopped in Wheaton, spending the night with the Wheaton Fire Department. For Rupp the Friday afternoon portion of his ride became frustrating as he got caught up in heavy traffic on Route 59.

When he finally arrived at the fire house, Rupp was welcomed with open arms.

“These guys greeted me like a long lost brother. They made me feel so welcome and are really providing me with the encouragement I need to continue,” Rupp said.

For additional encouragement one of the Wheaton firefighters gave Rupp a photograph of a family friend who fell in combat in Afghanistan. Rupp said if he gets tired or loses sight of why he’s riding, he will only have to look at that photo to keep going.  

Being in Wheaton gave Rupp time to reflect on the heroism of Wheaton College alum Todd Beamer, one of the passengers on Flight 93 whose last words were the now famous, “Let’s roll.”  Rupp said the selflessness of Beamer and the other passengers on that flight must be remembered.

Rupp said he’s received tremendous support from friends, family and, of course, other firefighters. Throughout his journey Rupp has been joined on the road by others. Each night he stops at a fire department along his route to sleep, eat and rest up for the next day’s ride.

During his overnight stay in Wheaton he was treated to a massage from the sports trainers at Wheaton College as well as a view of downtown Chicago from a fully extended ladder truck.

“The guys here, they really understand the idea of brotherhood, something I want people to know. We’re part of a brotherhood and when one of us mourns, we all mourn.”

Rupp said fire departments around the country showed that brotherhood when they rallied to raise funds and support for the firefighters who fell on Sept. 11. He said a department in Santa Barbara, CA, raised more than $800,000 for the Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

This wasn’t Rupp’s first visit to Wheaton. Four years ago he came to town to check out Wheaton College before ultimately deciding to pursue his studies at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. At the end of this school year Rupp will graduate with a triple major in biological sciences, nursing and pre-med. Rupp will apply to medical school in hopes of continuing to serve others by becoming a trauma flight doctor.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Rupp said.

People interested in Rupp’s journey can follow his travels on his Web site and contact him through it.