Wounded, injured and ill Soldiers pedal 164 miles

Wounded, injured and ill Soldiers pedal 164 miles
DVIDS
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital
Stacy Rzepka
November 13, 2013

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – More than 40 wounded, injured and ill soldiers and their supporters from Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, Ky. Warrior Transition Battalions (WTBs) and their supporters participated in the first Bluegrass Rendezvous Bike Ride Sept. 24 and 25.

The therapeutic and challenging ride between the two installations was designed to help strengthen the bonds between the soldiers while giving them a challenge they could meet and overcome with the help of their fellow riders.

As riders completed the last leg of the 164-mile trip, members of Fort Campbell and the surrounding communities came out to cheer them along. Groups of people stood along Trenton Road, Tiny Town Road, Fort Campbell Boulevard and throughout the installation to wave and cheer. Staff members from the 101st Airborne Division Headquarters building also stood along Indiana Avenue, saluting and encouraging the riders.

Staff Sgt. John Quarles, who has deployed multiple times, said that he felt emotional when he saw people who don’t even know him cheering along the route. Quarles said that it reminded him of coming home from a deployment. “It felt really good to see everyone out to support us,” he said.

WTB staff and soldiers, as well as the 101st Airborne Division Band, welcomed the returning riders with a finish-line celebration. Every rider received a medal, a goodie bag from Morale, Welfare and Recreation, pizza provided by the USO and the knowledge that they overcame a major challenge.

Sgt. Bryan Flanery, who was recognized as Fort Campbell’s most valuable rider, said that successfully completing the ride felt awesome. “It’s a feeling of accomplishment that has been missing for a long time,” Flanery said.

Healing power of biking
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