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More than 200 Airmen and Guardians, past and present, rode in the Air Force Heritage Memorial to Memorial bicycle ride, which started at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Sept. 12, and concluded at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Sep. 15.
The four-day M2M bike ride, organized by the Air Force Cycling Team, brought members together to celebrate the heritage of the Air Force and Space Force, promote fitness and recruiting, and support wounded service members.
Riders included Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin; retired Gen. David Goldfein, the 21st CSAF; Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna; and retired Chief Master Sgt. James Roy, the 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.
Allvin, who participated on the last day, led riders to the Air Force Memorial, where he acknowledged the importance of heritage, teamwork and fitness, and recognized the participants who trekked more than 340 miles together.
“Coming back here is a perfect end to this four-day ride,” Allvin said. “But (while riding) I saw more things when I think about celebrating our heritage and the things that make us who we are as an Air Force. I saw the teamwork that’s required for an Air Force to be successful. I didn’t see a lot of single riders by themselves. They were always with wingmen coaching them, helping them, sometimes mentoring them.”
The riders gathered during the closing ceremony, which included a recognition and awards presentation.
Lt. Col. Ryan Natalini, a member of the Air Force Cycling Team, joined the bike ride with his wife, Lt. Col. Amy Natalini. He said the Memorial-to-Memorial bicycle ride was a great event and a great opportunity to experience what the East Coast has to offer while doing something he and his wife love to do.
“It’s four days with a whole bunch of your sisters and brothers, 340 miles from the Wright Brothers Memorial to [the] Air Force Memorial. What cooler thing can we do as Airmen and Guardians, right?” Natalini said. “Tapping in our heritage, our camaraderie with each other, it gave me an opportunity to spend four days with my wife out on the road and enjoy each other’s company.”
Tim Blaisdell said that even though he is no longer in the Air Force, he felt the camaraderie with all the participants, including all the currently serving Air Force and Space Force military, retired and separated members.
“You feel that bond of community again,” he said.
The M2M bike ride, which was a brainchild of retired Brig. Gen. Robert Beletic, former vice commander of 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern), and Goldfein, began in 2022 to celebrate the Air Force’s 75th anniversary.
