A record turnout of more than 600 motorcyclists rolled through the Lowcountry on Sunday for the sixth annual 9/11 memorial ride, a police-escorted procession that started and finished at the Omar Shrine Center in Mount Pleasant and marked 25 years since the September 11 attacks.
Founder Gary Goldman said the pull of the 25th anniversary drew riders from across South Carolina and beyond. The event’s ride captain and organizing team, including vice chair Haley Andringa, spent the morning welcoming motorcycle clubs, first responders, and family members before rolling out shortly after the noon registration window. Goldman, who lost three friends on 9/11 and has ridden alongside a survivor he has known since 10th grade, described the response as overwhelming as clubs, individuals, spectators, and vendors filled the staging area throughout the morning.
This year’s beneficiary is Just Bee, a nonprofit that works with people on the autism spectrum and trains law enforcement in Charleston and Berkeley counties to recognize sensory needs during stops. Goldman said South Carolina was the first state in the country to place the group’s identifying logo on a specialty license plate, with Georgia becoming the second. Raffle proceeds and prizes donated by local vendors will go to the group, and a $20 barbecue buffet followed the ride.
Riders included David Fleming, a retired paramedic and 35-year police veteran who joined the ride six days after a heart attack. He said the ride raises awareness and recognition for the people who serve the public. Gene Eaton, the South Carolina state captain for the Patriot Guard Riders, rode with his son, who introduced him to the Lowcountry event after moving to Charleston two years ago. Eaton, who recently completed a memorial trip that stopped at Shanksville, the Pentagon, and Ground Zero for the 25th anniversary, said the local ride was intended to honor the 2,977 people killed in the attacks and to carry the story forward for younger generations who were born after 9/11 and may not learn about it at school.
The community program surrounding the ride included live music, vendor booths of art, jewelry, clothing, and pottery, and the 24th annual Touch a Truck event that lets children climb aboard fire, police, and utility vehicles. Goldman said the memorial ride will return next year, with organizers already discussing how to keep the anniversary momentum going as the event enters its second half-decade in the Lowcountry.
