Two Men Bike Across Country to Honor Fallen Service Members
Mike Conneen covers Team Jesse for News Channel 8 in Washington D.C.
Two men are pedaling their way across the country to raise money for military families. Kevin Mincio and Matt Sauri stopped at Arlington National Cemetery Wednesday to honor two friends who are buried there side-by-side.
They passed the 3,800-mile mark of their 4,200-mile journey that started in California in early June. Their ride started in Santa Rosa, Calif., at the gravesite of Staff Sgt. Jesse Williams.
They climbed the Rocky Mountains and escaped a heat wave across the Midwest. Through it, they say Marine Lt. Travis Manion and Navy Lt. Brendan Looney inspired them to keep peddling forward.
The Naval Academy roommates were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively. They're buried side-by-side at Arlington National Cemetery.
The two bicyclists were greeted by the Manion and Looney families Wednesday and left two flags they carried on their bikes.
“Two just extraordinary soldiers that we are just honored to be able to say thank you to in person and have the support of their family while we do that,” Mincio said.
The families say they are grateful for this tribute.