North Tonawanda resident Dale Hohl is a police officer and a volunteer firefighter.
As such, he’s a part of two fraternities that lost many friends during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Hohl is a University at Buffalo police officer and is a member of Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Company in Amherst, the latter of which sent a crew to Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attacks.
Hohl couldn’t go at the time, but ever since, he has wanted to help the families of fallen police officers.
Next week, he will finally get that chance. Hohl and Grand Island resident Amy Pedlow, a colleague of his at UB, where the two patrol the campus on bicycles, will participate in the Tour de Force, a bicycle ride that pays tribute to police officers who died on Sept. 11. The race raises money for families of police officers nationwide killed in the line of duty.
From Sept. 8-11, Hohl and Pedlow will join 150 other police officers from across the country on a 250-mile bike ride from the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., to Ground Zero — the site of the World Trade Center attacks — in New York City. Hohl and Pedlow are the only Western New Yorkers participating in the Tour de Force.
The ride began in 2002. This year’s Tour de Force will travel past New York City’s official observation of the attacks at Ground Zero and conclude with a remembrance event at the New York City Police Memorial in Battery City Park.
Hohl, 47, talked about the event for this week’s Q & A.
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QUESTION: Why are you participating in the Tour de Force?
ANSWER: I’m a volunteer fireman with Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Company in Amherst and when the 9/11 attacks happened, they sent a crew down to assist. I wanted to go but I couldn’t, just because of the time constraints. It hit home for me for both professions. It’s my way of showing remembrance for the day and to raise money to benefit the families of police officers who died during the attacks.
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Q: How did you hear about this event?
A: You have to apply for it. Amy initiated the application process. She knew of my connection to fire service, so she asked me if I’d consider it and I said absolutely.
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Q: Have you done other bike rides for charity?
A: I’ve done the Ride for Roswell and the Ride for Missing Children. This will be my farthest cumulative bike ride. I’ve ridden a couple of 100-mile rides and I’ve done the 62-mile course for the Ride for Roswell a couple of times.
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Q: As a member of law enforcement yourself, how much does this mean to be able to help out?
A: The biggest thing is the awareness. Each rider has to raise a minimum of $1,000 just to make sure we cover some of the administrative costs. The amount of money I raise is probably minuscule in the big picture. The big thing is to never forget what happened. If anybody is so inclined to donate money, all the better
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Q: How can people donate to this cause?
A: The easiest way is to visit www.tourdeforceny.com/sections/donation.asp and enter either Amy Pedlow or Dale Hohl.
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Q: What were you doing on Sept. 11?
A: I was working for a different job, listening to it on the radio in disbelief just like everybody else. It’s one of those things where I’ll never forget what I was doing or where I was. It’s something that will always be with me.
Photos
TICKET TO RIDE: North Tonawanda resident Dale Hohl, right, and Amy Pedlow of Grand Island will be riding their bicycles 250 miles from the Pentagon to Ground Zero to mark the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/The Tonawanda News(Click for larger image)
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