Cyclists, Now 1,200 Strong, Ride into National Memorial in D.C.

(UPDATE 2:39 p.m.)—When someone you love or respect has died, there can be a burning inside to honor them, to show that you cared that they had lived.

And this week thousands of police officers who have lost their police brothers or sisters have been acting on that desire by cycling in Police Unity Tour 2011, a nationwide event that honors fallen law enforcement officers.

The police cyclists, their muscles burning or numb, churn through hundreds of miles, pushing their own physical limits. It's a celebration of life and sacrifice—the cyclists ride about eight hours a day. And they ride because those officers who died cannot.

"We Ride for Those Who Died" is the tour's motto.

About 1,200 cyclists who are police officers from throughout the country, including Pikesville's own Sgt. Vickie Warehime, rode into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Thursday afternoon, completing hundreds of miles in honor of fallen officers.

Warehime and her group rode 320 miles from Floram Park, NJ. Throughout the tour, Warehime sent comments and photos to Pikesville Patch.

"Today we leave Annapolis, break in Bowie before we all meet at RFK stadium," Warehime texted at 7 a.m. Thursday morning. "That's where the other riders from Virginia join us. We ride as a group—1,200 total—into D.C. and right into the memorial. A short ceremony then we prepare for tomorrow night's candlelight vigil. Time to ride!"

At 9:37 a.m., she was in Bowie. "Today is our hill day. Tough on the legs but the motivation of why we ride keeps you pedaling. I think Bruce actually helped me up one of the long hills," she said, referring to Sgt. Bruce Prothero. Warehime is riding in honor of Prothero who was shot and killed Feb. 2000 while off duty and working security at J. Brown Jewelers in Pikesville. "We are at 270 miles [total] so far. First break just outside of Bowie! D.C. here we come!"

At about noon, the group arrived at RFK Stadium in Washington, where they waited to unite with about 600 other cyclists coming in from Virginia. They met up with that group at about 1:43 p.m., and made an emotional ride into the national memorial.

"It's been a long day," Warehime said. And an "emotional time. Wonderful people, wonderful survivors."

On Monday they rode through the Holland Tunnel into New York City and around Ground Zero, ending at Highstown, NJ, 66 miles later.

On Tuesday the group cycled 102 miles, including over the Commodore Barry Bridge, stopping in Wilmington, DE.

And on Wednesday it went another 88 miles from Wilmington, then across the Chesapeake and Delaware Bridge, finishing on the Eastern Shore at the Bay Bridge.

Today members of that group make their final ride into Washington.

Tomorrow, the cyclists will don their uniforms once again and participate in a candlelight vigil, with family members of fallen officers, honoring those whose names appear on the memorial.

"On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours," according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. "Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than  19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice."

Read more about the tour:

• Wednesday, May 11: 
• Tuesday, May 10: Second Day of Cycling—160 Miles so Far—Is Complete

• Monday, May 9: 
• To read about the event before it started, visit: 
• Cyclists aren't the only bikers honoring fallen officers during national Police Week: 

Are you inspired, and want to honor fallen officers? .

Inspired to ride? Try this one in Reisterstown, for adults and kids: .

And, see which other Precinct 4/Pikesville Heroes are in D.C. today: .