Residents from around Long Island gathered Friday to watch and cheer on hundreds of injured veterans as they rode from Manhattan to Montauk.

The riders took off from Babylon Town Hall Friday morning. Many of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who rode in the Wounded Warrior Project event lost legs in battle and were equipped with special bikes. A core group of vets made the full trip from New York City to the East End, with others joining in on the way or for part of the trip.

Crowds waved flags and held banners and firefighters hoisted flags above the roads to show their support. Korean War veteran Tom Belmont says he stood by the bike route to thank the riders.

The Wounded Warriors Project received a $30,000 check from the Town of Babylon and the Suffolk County Police Department First Precinct.

To see more footage from the ride, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.

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