What is the Police Unity Tour?
Do you have any idea what this is? This Police Unity Tour? I didn’t until a friend introduced Chip to it several years ago. Allow me to introduce you to this event…
As a law enforcement officer and an avid (rabid) cyclist, the Police Unity Tour is right up Chip’s alley. It’s a ride for awareness. It’s a ride to honor the fallen. It’s a fundraiser. It’s about the LEO family.
The Police Unity Tour is a nationwide event with individual chapters across the country. These men and women are law enforcement, law enforcement families, and survivors of fallen law enforcement. They each raise over $2000 and physically train (and train hard!) to participate in a cycling event to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington DC.
The Tour also requires the support of at least another thousand behind the scenes workers for logistics, food, hotels, medical, mechanical, and rider/route safety. They ALL raise funds for the Memorial and take time off from their jobs for the privilege of assisting with the Tour. In addition, there are businesses and just good people who provide food, assistance, and support along the way in the various towns they pass through. Plus, each rider and each support worker is riding or working in honor of a law enforcement officer who lost their life. It really is remarkable!
Each chapter gathers in their chosen town to begin an approximately 200-250 mile, three-day bike ride into DC. Three long days of cycling – regardless of the weather. The chapters from all over the country arrive at RFK Stadium outside DC on day three of cycling and ride to the National Law Enforcement Memorial together as the culminating event of the tour. When entering the Memorial there are about 2000 cyclists. I’ve never seen anything like it!
The money they raise is primarily to maintain and continue the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Sadly, as we lose more officers over the years the memorial wall will have to be expanded. The reason they ride is to honor their fallen and raise awareness of officers lost in the line of duty. As their slogan says, “We ride for those who died.” The ride into the Memorial is at the beginning of National Police Week in DC, and for the first time, I was able to go and witness it this year.
As I walked around the Memorial I cried, laughed, and smiled all at the same time. Early in the day families were placing photos, letters, and memorabilia by the names of their loved ones at the wall. It would tear my heart up but was simultaneously a time of laughter and healing. Stories were shared and friendships were made or rekindled. As the riders came through the Memorial there were shouts, cheers, and “thank yous” for the physical sacrifice they made to honor those we’ve lost. A brotherhood of officers from all across the country (and a few other countries) and their families. That’s what this is about.
Day four of the Tour is the Candlelight Vigil which marks the beginning of Police Week. After three days of strenuous cycling, the officers don their Class A or Honor Guard uniforms and escort
Being a law enforcement family is a calling and
Friends, take a look at these photos. Next time an officer asks for your financial support on the Police Unity Tour, consider saying yes. Then please say a prayer for the safety of all law enforcement officers and thank God that there are those willing to sacrifice their lives to protect yours. And if you ever get a chance to make it to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in DC, you won’t forget it. I know I won’t forget this experience any time soon.
Some of these photos are my own, but for many, the credit belongs with the Chapter VIII photographer, JB Whelchel Photography (@jbwhelchel). Thanks for the beautiful memories.
policeunitytour.com / https://www.jbwhelchel.com/
Much love,
