The Team Jesse Foundation's Ride Across America is raising money for families of fallen soldiers and first responders in honor of a soldier killed while serving in Iraq.
This bike ride started about two months ago in California. It's named in honor of Jesse Williams who died fighting in Iraq. Now Team Jesse is working to make sure his name lives on for a good cause.
Team Jesse co-founder Kevin Mincio says he remembers the September 11th attacks like they were yesterday. "I was right across the street from the towers when the first plane hit. I was out on the street when the second plane hit, and I was mad about that."
He turned that anger into a call of duty. Mincio said, "After 9/11 I enlisted as an infantryman. I served with Staff Sergeant Jesse Williams who was killed April 8th 2007."
Now Mincio along with his friend Matt Sauri are honoring Jesse Williams with a cross country bike ride. They started in William's California hometown on what would have been his 30th birthday. Two months and 3,500 miles later they've made it to Charlottesville.
Team Jesse helps raise money to send the families of America's fallen service men and women to college.
Matt Sauri said, "Every single dollar that we bring in goes toward the families of fallen soldiers."
Charlottesville's fire department welcomed the team to the city Saturday with a giant American flag and visits from UVA Football Coach Mike London and Mayor Dave Norris.
Norris stated, "Regardless of anybody's view on any of these wars that we're fighting, the fact is we have families that are left behind and children who are orphaned, spouses who are widowed, and we need to step up."
Sauri and Mincio say they appreciate the support as they continue on their way to Ground Zero.
Sauri said, "It really shows you what this country is about in honoring the sacrifices that Kevin Mincio has made, and our service men and women have made."
The team will be at Mono Loco Sunday night. A portion of the restaurant's sales Sunday will benefit Team Jesse. Then they're off to Fredericksburg on their way to New York City for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
Click here to visit the Team Jesse website.
