California, MD – Police officers throughout Southern Maryland saw overwhelming evidence of the appreciation local residents have for the work they do Saturday, July 23. In fact, it was all over the road. A caravan of over 100 Jeeps, most of them festooned with American flags, traveled in a procession starting at the Wildewood Shopping Center, out onto Route 235 with a left turn onto Route 4. The parade continued over the Thomas Johnson Bridge, up northbound Route 2/4 with a left-hand turn onto Route 231. Crossing the Benedict Bridge, the line of Jeeps traveled into Charles County got onto southbound Route 5, stayed to the left at the split and traveled down Route 235 before stopping at Mission Barbecue in Lexington Park.
The road event was dubbed “Back the Blue.”
On Friday, July 22 event coordinator Frank Borelli of the nonprofit organization Patriotic Jeeps, told The BayNet about 50 to 60 Jeeps were expected to participate. By Saturday morning the number was more than double that. Borelli’s final count is a participation of 127 vehicles.
An organization called Southern Maryland Jeepers provided many of the vehicles and riders. One Jeeper, Ryan Bishop, told The BayNet the organization has about 2,000 members and the group often participates in similar patriotic-themed events.
“It depends on the situation,” said Bishop. “We do one on the Fourth of July, Veterans Day and were doing this one today to support police.”
Borelli stated the event organizers asked for no special treatment from local law enforcement since the event was going to be fairly informal and escorts and traffic stoppages weren’t necessary. However, he said when the Maryland State Police in Prince Frederick found out about the caravan, they decided to keep the Route 2/4 – Route 231 intersection clear so that the group could proceed.
For more information on Patriotic Jeeps, visit their web site
Read The BayNet’s previous story on Back the Blue
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
