On September 12, 2024, United States Air Force and Space Force cyclists will begin Day 1 of the third annual Air Force Heritage Memorial to Memorial (M2M) four-day bike ride. As of today, 220 cyclists will participate in the journey from the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills to the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. As of today, 220 cyclists will participate. These men and women are active and retired Airmen and Guardians and include all ranks from 4-star officers to most Junior Airmen and Guardians, including 2 wounded men and 1 woman.
The event begins at 7 a.m. when the Kill Devil Hills Police Department (KDHPD) will direct traffic on Route 158 at the Wright Brothers Memorial’s main entrance to allow cyclists to safely enter the Memorial Grounds. Cyclists will gather in front of the Wright Memorial for a brief opening ceremony including the national anthem, pre-ride speeches, and a group photo while a squadron of two Air Force F-15 fighter jets, accompanied by a KC-46 refueling aircraft, flies overhead.
Following the ceremony, cyclists will depart the memorial grounds between 7:20 and 7:30 a.m. and cycle nearly 95 miles to their first overnight stop at hotels in Chesapeake City under traffic control from the KDHPD, Kitty Hawk PD, Currituck County Sheriff’s Department and Chesapeake PD.
This year, M2M estimated the economic impact for NC and VA at $219,000. As M2M grows in the coming years—reaching thousands of cyclists—the economic impact for communities will also grow.
The purpose of the M2M is to (a) celebrate the heritage of the U.S. Air Force, (b) promote fitness and recruitment, and (c) support our wounded Airmen and Guardians. The M2M has thus far focused on active and retired U.S. Air and Space Force cyclists. We plan to expand this focus in the coming years to include all military branches and civilian cyclists as we strive to become one of the largest cycling events in the United States.
To better understand the history of Air Force Cycling, please visit our websites US Air Force Cycling Team (afcycling.com) and M2M Ride – US Air Force Cycling Team (afcycling.com).
