Oklahomans ride to New York's ground zero

<br>CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) _ A group of Oklahomans will travel by horseback from the site of the federal building bombing in Oklahoma City to ground zero in New York City. <br><br>The journey begins April

Sunday, March 10th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) _ A group of Oklahomans will travel by horseback from the site of the federal building bombing in Oklahoma City to ground zero in New York City.

The journey begins April 19, the seventh anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, and will end Sept. 11, the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

The so-called Ride4America is a charity stunt designed to raise money for terrorist victims, as well as promote Oklahoma's historic Route 66.

The four men leading the five-month journey are Claremore firefighter Gary Conger, cowboy poet Tim Myers, Osage Indian horseman Robert Malone and former rodeo cowboy Fred Bell of Collinsville.

The men will lead a horse without a rider as a symbol of those who died in the attacks.

A four-member crew with a chuck wagon and teepee also will go on the trip, which will follow Route 66 to New York.

Myers _ president of Oklahoma Western Heritage, Inc., which is sponsoring the ride _ said the men expect to travel about 110 miles per week.

The four riders are seeking trip sponsors, who are asked to donate to a scholarship fund for children and victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.