Army Captains cycle across country for cause
By JERRY SOIFER
Special to The Press-Enterprise
As if they had not endured enough danger during multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, three U.S. Army captains risked their well-being by riding their bicycles 3,800 miles across the country on the road to being mustered out of active duty. They used leave time to make the trip.
Dan Marques, 27, a Norco High graduate, joined Army buddies Joel Glover, 27, of Abilene, Texas, and Pete Phipps, 28, of Hudson, Ohio, in culminating their nearly two-month ride Sunday at the Dos Lagos shopping center in Corona where they were greeted by a crowd of 200. They had spent the night before at Marques’ parents’ home in Corona.
The crowd stood on both sides of the street to wave American flags as the cyclists completed their trip. A Corona Fire Department ladder truck hoisted a huge American flag high above the crowd. Corona Mayor Karen Spiegel and Corona Chamber of Commerce President Bobby Spiegel showered praise on the veterans.
The cyclists raised more than $25,000 and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, which assists injured veterans of the two wars. Some of the injured were classmates of the captains at West Point.
“This is our tribute to the guys who got hurt,” said Glover. “It was worth any risk.”
“All three of us felt fortunate to make it through unhurt,” said Marques. “They (wounded veterans) need help.”
“The same rush you get in combat is what we experienced on this bike ride,” said Phipps.
The three captains who met as plebes at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point planned the trip during their off-duty hours. They started a website, www.pedalinwithapurpose.com, which is still open for contributions. They dipped their bicycles in the Atlantic Ocean on June 6, the first day of their trip.
They covered 21 states in 54 days to reach San Francisco, where they dipped their bicycles in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.
After being discharged from active duty, Marques will join the Indiana National Guard while he studies law at Notre Dame.
Glover is headed for law school at South Texas State University.
Phipps is looking for work in Charlotte, N.C.
