Navy Veterans Bike 3,400 Miles to Honor 9/11 Heroes

When Jim Serger called his old Navy buddy Cory Hardy in January with a wild idea, he got an instant yes. The two friends, who hadn't seen each other in three decades, would bike from California to New York City to honor the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Serger, 55, from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Hardy, 51, from Ennis, Montana, kicked off their journey in San Diego on July 14. They averaged 170 miles per day, drinking three gallons of water combined and fueling up on energy waffles, protein bars, and plenty of carbs.

The route wasn't easy. They navigated 20 road closures, fires, flooding in Colorado, two flat tires, and intense heat across the Southwest. Hardy took 10-minute ice baths every single day to recover.

But the physical challenge was only part of the story. The pair stopped at about 25 firehouses along the way, handing out books from the nonprofit Tunnel to Towers and connecting with first responders from coast to coast.

"Sometimes we were there for an hour, sometimes we were there for four hours," Serger told Fox News Digital. "Talking about Tunnel to Towers, where they were on 9/11, how much they train. It was just very heartwarming."

Old Navy buddies met them along the route. An Arizona state trooper drove from Phoenix to Flagstaff just to see them pass through. Strangers opened their homes for overnight stays.

Why This Inspires

What moved both veterans most was seeing Americans come together regardless of politics or background. At every firehouse, Hardy said, people were ready to help and serve their communities.

"They're just another American out there willing to put their life on the line to save people," he said. "I thought it was super awesome to get to meet firefighters from East Coast to West Coast."

As they got closer to Shanksville, the Pentagon, and New York, the emotional weight grew heavier. Firefighters shared stories of losing brothers on 9/11. Community members talked about family members who were there that day.

At the Pentagon, they received a police escort and a five-hour tour, including the 9/11 memorial. In Pennsylvania, local police guided them through Shanksville.

After 20 days and roughly 3,400 miles, they rolled into Lower Manhattan. The FDNY, Port Authority, and NYPD Honor Guard welcomed them at FDNY Ten House, directly across from Ground Zero.

"I started crying," Serger said. "My wife was there. She flew in. It was very, very moving."

Two friends who served their country decades ago proved that service never really ends, and that remembering together makes us all stronger.