Last September, the Air Force Cycling Team composed of active duty, guardsmen, reservists, and retired airmen of the USAF and US Space Command launched the inaugural Memorial-to-Memorial (M2M) bike event to celebrate the 75th birthday of the USAF. The event would receive outstanding support and cooperation from the National Park Service/Wright Brothers National Park, North Carolina and Virginia Municipal, County, City, and State Governments
A second and equally important goal was to raise funds for Wounded Airmen and Guardians. The event, with 60 airmen and guardians, began at the Wright Memorial. Over 4 days the cyclists pedaled north to the USAF Memorial near the Pentagon in Northern Virginia.
The AF Cycling Team plans to make this an annual event open to all, military and civilian alike, to celebrate the Air Force Heritage and to raise funds for wounded airmen and guardians.
This year, the Memorial-to-Memorial bike event will start from the Wright Memorial on the morning of September 7, 2o23. The cyclists will enter the Memorial grounds at 6:45 a.m. with the assistance of the Kill Devil Hills Police Department (KDHPD) who will briefly stop traffic at the intersection of N. Croatan Hwy and Prospect Ave to permit cyclists to safely enter the park.
After a brief ceremony and safety briefing, a group photograph will be taken with the Memorial in the background and four USAF fighter jets overhead. At 7:30 a.m. the cyclists will exit the park, again with the assistance of the KDHPD, and will begin their ride to the first overnight stop in Chesapeake City. Enroute to that destination the cyclists will be supported by the Kitty Hawk PD, the Currituck County Sheriff’s Department, and the Chesapeake City PD.
As in 2022 the cyclists will be led by the former USAF Chief of Staff, General David L. Goldfein (21st CSAF, July 2016-August 2020). General Goldfein will be at the front of the cyclists as they exit the Outer Banks via the Beach Road, Kitty Hawk Road, Woods Road, then north over the Wright Memorial Bridge to Currituck County and then continuing north to Chesapeake City (the entire route to Chesapeake City is available upon request).
There are some significant changes comparing the M2M in 2022 and 2023.
- 2022: 60 cyclists – 2023 about 100 cyclists
- 2023: 1 to 4 wounded airmen will participate (final count to be determined)
- 2023: During the group photograph, about 7:10 am, four modern USAF fighter aircraft will overfly the Wright Memorial (local professional photographer, Chandler Tillet, Island Time Photography OBX).
Chip Cowen and his crew of bike mechanics at Outer Banks Bicycle will provide support to the cyclists the evening of September 6th and early on the 7th as was done in 2022.
Complete details of the AF Cycling Team are available at US Air Force Cycling Team (afcycling.com) (Team History, Leadership, M2M Ride). All details concerning the M2M (and to sign up, it is not too late!) are at M2MRide.com