Ride honors fallen officers

Riding a bicycle up the steep hills of Virginia is no easy task – whether you’re a rookie, or even an experienced cyclist.

But for Sgt. John Champagne, Capt. Scott Silverii and Lts. Andrew Labat and Gary Plaisance, all it took was a look at their wrists to get them through.

That’s because on each man’s wrist was a fallen officer’s name and a peek at it kept the legs peddling no matter how loud the men’s muscles barked at the end of the long ride.

“I said many, many prayers along the way when my body and my legs wanted to shut down,” Champagne said. “But you just look down and look at that bracelet and you realize what you’re riding for … muscle failure is nothing. Your body failing is nothing compared to what these men gave. A little pain is nothing compared to what these people’s families have gone through.”

The men rode as a part of the Police Unity Tour, an event founded in 1997 for officers who wanted to raise funds and awareness for the National Law Enforcement Memorial, scheduled to open later this year.

The riding took place from May 10-12 with a candlelight vigil held the next day.

It was the first year Louisiana officers were able to take part in the now 14-year event.

In total, the four policemen raised $11,000 of the $1.1 million raised at this year’s event, which will be used to engrave names into a wall that holds the names of fallen officers – including four that died in the line of duty in Lafourche Parish.

Silverii said he and his colleagues got the inspiration to take part in the event after Sheriff Craig Webre attended Police Memorial Week in 2009 and was taken away by the Unity Tour.

“He was absolutely impressed by what he saw,” Silverii said. “So he was introduced to the chapter president, who explained exactly what was going on and what the event was all about … He came home and knew that we had some pretty avid cyclists, so he wanted us to participate this year.”

But the three-day, 270-mile ride from Portsmouth, Va., to Washington, D.C., is not just about raising money.

It’s also about camaraderie and building relationships with the families of those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.

“There are chiefs of police out there and other high ranking officials, but on these days, no one has a rank,” Silverii said. “We’re talking about life. You’re doing something so much bigger than yourself.”

For Champagne, the ride hits close to home.

He lost his own brother, Chaney, in the line of duty in 2003 and vowed as he watched the Tour pass through in that year that he wanted to someday ride in the tour himself.

In 2010, he made his wish a reality – something he says is a full-circle experience.

“It’s hard to put it in words,” Champagne said. “From being on one side of it, being a part of the fallen family, watching the tour ride in, to actually becoming a part of it and riding myself, there are some very emotional times … I can’t think of the word to describe it.”

Champagne was riding for his brother and a fallen officer from Texas was on his bracelet.

Silverii said another person in the Lafourche group drew a fallen officer from Puerto Rico.

Following the completion of the cycle is a candlelight ceremony where the riding officers get to then meet the family of the officer they’ve been riding for the past three days.

“It brings it home,” Silverii said. “After three days on the saddle, you’re aching and this and that, but then you get to meet the family of the person on that band, it’s absolutely emotional. We like to cycle and we love the challenge, but my gosh, when you put another person’s name on your arm and you ride for him, it then becomes very personal.”

Training is involved for anyone who has ambition to ride close to 100 miles a day on a bicycle.

“They call it piles of miles,” Silverii said. “You definitely have to work hard on your distance.”

For Silverii, Plaisance and Labat, the trek was nothing out of the norm, because they are all experienced cyclists.

But this was Champagne’s first date with a bicycle.

“He didn’t even own a bicycle when this started,” Silverii said.

But aside from a few flat tires along the way, the motivation of honoring a loved one kept the policeman grinding his gears throughout the entire race, and he plans to continue to ride in the future if his work schedule and health allow.

“Aside from a few problems with the tires, I think I kept up with everyone pretty well in terms of the pace.”

Silverii agreed.

“I was so proud of the way he did,” he touted.

Silverii said the Lafourche riders are looking to make next year’s event even more successful than the 2010 ride.

The captain said the plan is for the Louisiana riders to cycle from Louisiana to Virginia before the Unity Tour.

He said anyone interested in being involved should contact him at teambluecycling@gmail.com for more information.

From left, Sgt. John Champagne, Lts. Andrew Labat and Gary Plaisance and Captain Scott Silverii with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office recently rode in the Unity Tour, a cycling race designed to honor officers who died in the line of duty. * COURTESY PHOTO