Not many people get to say “it was meant to be” when it comes to a bicycle. However, for John, he can. He saw this bike on our website and knew it was for him. He participates in the Law Enforcement United Ride that travels along the East Coast (Florida to D.C.). The thin blue line, for him, symbolizes the blue bars on a police uniform.
However, John wanted to personalize his retirement gift a little further. He wanted full Shimano Dura-Ace from head to toe (despite the online build being with SRAM), wanted to recognize the organizations he supports, and give a shout-out to his riding group.
The organizations he wanted to honor and raise awareness for:
Law Enforcement United – “Join us as we work to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and support the survivors left behind.”
Officers Down Memorial Page – “When a police officer is killed, it’s not an agency that loses an officer, it’s an entire nation.” -Chris Cosgriff, ODMP Founder
Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. – Provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria.
The LEU Ride is about twelve days of riding 50-110 miles a day. That can be tough. Thus, John put the ODMP and COPS insignia and the phrase “Never Forgotten” on his top tube. Now, whenever he looks down and is feeling tired, he is re-motivated by the Men and Women who have given their lives in the line of duty. He put the LEU insignia on his rear triangle.
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