Riding for the Front Lines: Recapping Jimmy’s 9/11 Memorial Ride & Pig Roast

Sep 7

4 min read

When the call goes out to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women who put their lives on the line for our neighborhoods, the riding community answers.

On Sunday, September 6th, engines rumbled into Herndon for Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern Annual 9/11 Memorial Ride, Poker Run, Pig Roast, and All-Day Music Festival. The entire run was built around a singular mission: backing our first responders. Every dollar raised went directly to The Firefighters Fund of Fairfax County and the Herndon Fraternal Order of Police to deliver vital resources and direct assistance to the personnel who serve our communities every single day.

Jimmy entrusts our VA1 chapter each year to lead the pack out on the highway. President Dale "Fender" and the road crew were deeply honored to guide the formation, keep everyone rolling safely, and support the ride.

Starting the Morning at Jimmy’s

The day got underway at 8:00 AM outside the tavern on Spring Street. The Cirrito family and the entire Jimmy’s crew opened their doors wide, laying out a full breakfast buffet to fuel the pack before hitting the asphalt. The morning was filled with genuine camaraderie—catching up on the patio, checking over bikes, and greeting familiar faces from across the region.

Just down the block, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Station 4 (Herndon) stood ready with Engine 404, Medic 404, and local units lining Spring Street—a powerful visual reminder of the men and women we rode for. Before helmets went on, riders and supporters gathered on the patio under the colors for opening ceremonies at 9:30 AM. It was a moment of true brotherhood and sisterhood, coming together to honor and remember the heroes, first responders, and innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001.

The Route: Police Escort, River Crossings, and Backroads

Kickstands went up promptly at 10:00 AM as the group staged on Spring Street and rolled out in tight formation to support the "Race for Remembrance 9/11 Tribute Run":

Town of Herndon Police Department Escort: A massive salute goes out to the Town of Herndon Police Department for providing a gracious, seamless escort out of town all the way to the Loudoun County border. Their professional escort gave the pack a clean, safe exit through town and set the standard for the entire ride.
Harvest Gap Brewery: Rolling through the open hills of western Loudoun County for the initial poker stop.
Big Belly’s (Point of Rocks, MD): Crossing the Potomac into Maryland to draw cards, stretch legs, and let the engines cool.
Route 15 & The 9/11 Memorial Relay for America: As our pack trekked south down Route 15 on the way to the final stop, we had the distinct honor of crossing paths with the runners of the 9/11 Memorial Relay for America. Seeing those dedicated athletes pounding the pavement mile after mile to carry the flag and honor the fallen was an inspiring, powerful sight from the saddle—two groups moving with one shared purpose of remembrance.
Spanky’s Shenanigans (Leesburg, VA): Heading into Leesburg for the final checkpoint. While at Spanky's, riders had the pleasure of meeting the Mayor of Leesburg, who came out to greet the pack and show appreciation for the run.

The Pig Roast and All-Day Music Festival

By 2:00 PM, the rumble returned to Herndon as the ride pulled back into Jimmy's. The parking lot filled out with rows of Harleys, cruisers, and trikes, and the party was in full swing under clear blue skies.

The Cirrito crew delivered their legendary Big Pig Platter—slow-cooked pulled pig, tender beef brisket, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, fresh corn on the cob, and dinner rolls. At 4:00 PM, Jimmy took the mic to announce the Poker Run winners and hand out awards, followed by an unforgettable live performance of the National Anthem by Rhapsody & Kimmy at 4:45 PM.

Sincere Thanks to the Bands and Musicians

A festival like this doesn't happen without an incredible soundtrack, and we want to give a massive shoutout and sincere tip of the helmet to every single artist and group who brought the noise across two stages all day and into the night:

Outdoor Stage Artists: A heartfelt thank you to Nigel Brewer for opening the stage with a powerful Tribute to the Fallen, followed by high-energy performances from Good for Sunday, Not Ready for Monday, The Roadducks, and The Blair Rich Project.
Indoor Stage Artists: Huge appreciation goes out to Andrew Lee and Friends, Crossing Elden, Jack Moran, Sunset Squirrels, Chris DeSantis, Dark Blue Moon, Joe Reiman, Paul Makarov of R-NØT, Yard Sale Kings, JOTT O’Blues Band, Louis & Friends, Children of the Grave, and The Warped Generation for keeping the tavern rocking inside from noon to closing time.

Standing with the Front Lines

Events like this show what happens when good people rally behind a real cause. We extend our deepest gratitude to Jimmy Cirrito, the Cirrito family, the entire Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern staff, the Town of Herndon Police Department, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Station 4, the musicians who gave their time and talent, and every rider and passenger who showed up to support our local police officers and firefighters.

To our first responders across Fairfax County and Herndon: we see your sacrifice, we respect your courage, and we’ve always got your back.