Riding across America

QUANTICO, Va. - Marine Maj. Van Brinson III didn't look like he'd spent the last two months on his bicycle when he pulled to a stop in front of the National Museum of the Marine Corps on Wednesday.

But he had.

Brinson, who is assigned to the Marine Corps Air Facility at Quantico Marine Corps base, was one of 18 cyclists who participated in World T.E.A.M. Sports' inaugural bike trek across the country, called Sea to Shining Sea, which was sponsored by State Farm.

"The people of the United States really rolled out the carpet for us," he said. "I mean we've gone through small towns in the middle of Iowa where the entire town came out. Flags lined the road. We have met people across the country who are the face of America."

Many of the riders were wounded Iraq or Afghanistan and represent all branches of the armed forces. Several of the cyclists had specially-designed bikes that made it possible for them to participate. Brinson was asked to serve as ride director due to his participating in World T.E.A.M.'s Faces of America ride over the past several years.

The group left from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on May 22, cycling through deserts, mountain passes and by historical landmarks on their 63-day, 4,000-mile journey, which ended in Virginia Beach on Saturday.

Brinson said he never thought about how long the cross-country trek was going to take.

"You really chop it down day-to-day," he explained. "You get up in the morning. You get to lunch. You make it to the afternoon water break. By then it's a couple of hours until the day is done. Before you know it, you've done a week, you've done two weeks."

But the midway point in the ride -- when the group had two weeks behind them and about three weeks to go - was the toughest, he continued. That is, until they rode into Bloomington, Il on July 4.

"The whole town came out for us," he recalled. "That kind of put us in the mindset, 'we've got three weeks left. We can really pull this off.'"

Dozens came out to support the group during their stop at the Marine Museum, including retired Army 1st Sgt. Ed Setliff, a State Farm Insurance agent with an office in Woodbridge.

"It's phenomenal to see the respect the American people are showing our returning soldiers," he said.

Among the supporters who joined the group were Army Brig. Gen. Arnold N. Gordon-Bray, retired Marine Corps Gen. Robert Magnus, and Ambassador Paul Bremer who oversaw the reconstruction of Iraq from May 2003 to June 2004.

"The selfless service of these warriors, including the injuries they sustained, is evidence of their courage, honor and commitment," said Magnus. "Their indomitable will to succeed by completing the daunting Sea to Shining Sea ride is a testament to today's military men and women."

Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718.