摩托车手纪念９·１１死难者

The noise was 1)deafening and the smell of 2)gasoline hung heavy in the air at the Bergen County 3)Courthouse parking lot Saturday morning, as an 4)estimated 1,500 bikers prepared to travel to Manhattan in the annual Freedom Ride to Ground Zero.

“The bikers are being police-5)escorted to Ground Zero, to pay their respects, and then they’re going to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, where there will be a 6)dedication ceremony and 7)refreshments,”said Lou Manuppelli, a retired West New York police officer, who is now a 8)warranty manager at Bergen County Harley-Davidson, which sponsored the event. “We are showing the country and the people in the state of New Jersey that the motorcycle riders and police officers support our 9)troops.”

The event, which raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that helps injured service members, also was intended to remember the tragedy at the World Trade Center, said Deborah Feinsod, an assistant to the general manager at Bergen County Harley-Davidson.

“This is our annual Freedom Run to celebrate, recognize and 10)acknowledge all the people who were involved in 9/11,”Feinsod said.

Lyndhurst’s Mark Sadonis, who rode a silver Yamaha Road Star cycle, said the event made him feel 11)patriotic.

“I’m just here to take the run to 9/11 and show support for the country, and to show these other countries that we stick together here in the United States,”said Sadonis, 54.

John Kish, who was riding a 12)maroon and red Harley-Davidson Dyna Glide, said he was there to make sure the victims of the Twin Towers attack were never forgotten.

“We feel sorry for the people that got killed in 9/11, and we’re here to show our support,”said Kish, 62 of Clifton. “And I’m a 13)veteran myself, an ex-14)paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, so that’s why I’m here.”

Sean Gaither, who was on a black Harley-Davidson Softail, said he never 15)passes up an opportunity to help.

“I’m a volunteer firefighter and I’m also a police officer in Trenton, so any time I can extend myself to other officers or the military, I’m always there,”said Gaither, 37, of Somerset.

Chuck Hess, a volunteer at the event from the Christian Motorcycle Association in Allendale, said he was encouraged by the thousands of riders who showed up.

“It’s a good time when everybody can get together and do something good for the people that need it,”Hess said.”[The turnout] shows people really care and they want to do something.

星期六上午，贝尔根郡政府的停车场上传来震耳欲聋的响声，空气中满是浓烈的汽油味。在一年一度的“零点地带自由行”上，约1500名摩托车手整装待发，准备前往曼哈顿。

“车手们将在警察的护送下到达零点地带（世贸遗址）进行瞻仰，然后前往泽西市的自由州立公园。那里会举行一个纪念仪式，并为车手们提供食物和饮料。”卢•玛纽帕利说。他退休前是一名西纽约郡警官，如今则是赞助这次活动的哈雷•戴维森公司在贝尔根郡的售后服务经理。“我们要告诉我们的国家和新泽西州的人们，摩托车手和警员都支持在前方的将士。”

这个活动曾为一个名为“受伤勇士计划”的组织筹款，该组织为受伤的现役士兵提供援助。此外，根据贝尔根郡哈雷•戴维森公司的总经理助理黛波拉•芬索的说法，活动的另一个目的是为了纪念发生在世贸中心的那场灾难。

“我们这项一年一度的自由行活动是为了祝福、肯定与感谢所有与9•11事件有关的人。”芬索说。

来自林德赫斯特的马克•塞多尼斯跨着一辆银色的雅马哈道星摩托车，他说这次活动让他感受到爱国之情。

“我来参加9•11的自由行活动是为了支持我们的国家，也是为了告诉其它国家：美国人民是团结在一起的。”54岁的塞多尼斯说。

约翰•基什开着一辆栗红色的哈雷•戴维森戴纳滑行摩托车，他说自己参与这次活动是为了让人们永远记住世贸双塔事件的受害者。

“我们为9•11事件的死难者感到难过，便到这里表示支持，” 来自克利夫顿、62岁的基什说，“我自己也是一个老兵，以前是第82空降师的伞兵，所以我来了。”

骑着一辆黑色哈雷软尾车的肖恩•盖瑟说他绝不会错过帮助他人的机会。

“我是名义务消防员，还是特伦顿的警官，所以只要有向其他警官或军方施以援手的机会，我总是乐于效劳。”来自萨默塞特、37岁的盖瑟说。

查克•赫斯来自艾伦代尔的基督教摩托车协会，他在这次活动中担任志愿者。他说，数千名车手的出现让他倍感鼓舞。

“这是一个好机会，大家可以聚到一块儿，给需要的人提供帮助，”赫斯说。“参与活动的人这么多，这说明人们对此事相当关注，并想为之出一份力。”