Sachem Alum Among Firefighters Biking to Pentagon

343. It's the number of firefighters who gave their lives in heroism 10 years ago this Sept. 11.

It’s also the number of miles from Montauk to the Pentagon and made for one grueling bike tour for 38 FDNY firefighters stationed at Ladder/Engine 50 in the South Bronx.

One is Sachem alum Michael Reese from the Class of 1989.

“It’s to memorialize the 10-year anniversary of September 11 and to honor the lives that were lost from the fire department that day,” he said.

They are raising money for wounded veterans, injured fighting for America in the last 10 years. Army Specialist Evan Marcy, one of those veterans, biked with them. His father Dwayne is a former New York City fireman and joined them on the ride.

The five-day trip began in Montauk on September 7 and finished Sunday afternoon. The longest stretch was a 106-mile trek from Montauk to Westbury in pouring rain on the first day.

From there they laid a wreath in the water near the new FDNY 343 Fireboat and then it was off to Elizabeth, N.J., Toms River, N.J., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Annapolis, MD. and finally the Pentagon.

“It’s about a bunch of guys getting together and coming up with an idea,” Reese said, “and the power of what you’re able to do as a team.”

Every person who rode a bike had a piece of steel from the World Trade Center ziptied to their bike.

“If you think about the pain we were going through on the bike ride, it’s nothing compared to the loss that family members had,” Reese said. “It’s empowering that we’ll never forget our fallen brothers.”

You can donate to their cause by clicking here.