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FTA 07-06
Contact: Paul Griffo, Tel.: (202) 841-7563
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Nation’s top transit official helps LYNX Transit unveil ‘moving’ memorial: ‘A Ride to Remember’ bus designed to honor Florida’s fallen heroes
Floridians who paid the ultimate price for America’s freedom were honored today with a custom-painted bus designed by the Central Florida Transportation Authority (LYNX).
“The memorial will be an inspiration to transit authorities throughout the country who want to honor those who have paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom,” said Sandy Bushue, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Bushue was among local, state and federal officials present for “A Ride to Remember,” a morning ceremony at Blue Jacket Park where the bus was unveiled.
Lynx designed the bus after discussions with the FTA about how transit agencies could observe and promote “A Moment of Remembrance,” a nationwide campaign to encourage Americans to pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to reflect on the sacrifices of those who died while serving the country.
The bus design, which includes a memorial flag being presented to a military survivor, bears the names of local fallen heroes. It also carries a message promoting the National Moment of Remembrance, which is a bipartisan effort of the White House Commission on Remembrance.
"We at LYNX hope this bus will remind not just Central Floridians, but all Americans to take a moment to remember the service members who gave all," LYNX CEO Linda Watson said. "We have a long history of honoring veterans with new bus designs every year, but this one is special because it’s a memorial to those who died in service.”
The bus is the most recent in a series of buses LYNX has designed to honor those who served the country, but is the first to honor those who died in service. In addition to names of fallen Floridians, the bus also bears the names of Army Spc. Lori Piestewa of Arizona, the first female American Indian to die in military service. It will continue to circulate in central Florida for three years.
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