TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Day one of the Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride ended in Tehachapi amid fanfare Sunday as Iraq War veterans Wesley Barrientos and Jeremy Staat rolled into town with flags flying, horns honking and sirens blaring.

On the east end of town, Tehachapi High cheerleaders held a welcoming banner while at the other end, Mayor Ed Grimes jumped up and down in the street as the entourage made its way toward The Apple Shed restaurant, where presentations were planned.

Since learning that Tehachapi would be the first stop on the 4,263-mile journey to draw attention to the needs of veterans, Grimes and a committee of volunteers have been working to make sure the small mountain community would set what he said would be the "gold standard" for how towns and cities across America should welcome the veterans.

Barrientos is a three-time Iraq War veteran, three-time Purple Heart recipient and a double amputee who rides a hand-crank bicycle. Staat is a retired NFL player and Iraq War veteran who established the Jeremy Staat Foundation to raise awareness of and support for veterans.

The two, both of Bakersfield, were joined by Vietnam veteran Dale Porter of Taft and 16 other bicyclists Sunday to make the grueling eight-hour bicycle ride up Highway 58 from Bakersfield to Tehachapi, the first overnight stop in what is expected to be a 100-day journey.

Porter plans to make the entire ride, according to his niece, Christina Smalley of Bakersfield. The other cyclists were representing Kern County in the first leg of the journey and it is expected that many other cycling groups will accompany the trio for portions of the cross-country trip.

John Zaninovich of Bakersfield was among the bicyclists making the trek up the hill Sunday.

"As a group we just wanted to show what Kern County can do," he said.

Motorcyclists from throughout the region made the trip to Tehachapi Sunday as well. Three motorcycles carrying flags of the various branches of the service -- as well as the U.S. flag -- escorted the riders up the hill and dozens of others were on hand, engines roaring, to welcome them to town.

Ben Patten of Bakersfield said the group included American Legion riders and the Patriot Guard, groups that cooperate to provide escorts and participate in patriotic events. Riders included veterans, reservists and active duty military, he said.

The ride began Sunday morning in Bakersfield and a stop was made at Bakersfield National Cemetery, where veterans groups had flags flying to welcome the riders. Although the distance between Bakersfield and Washington, D.C., is 2,300 miles, the trip route encompasses more than 4,000 miles because of planned stops at veteran memorials, churches, schools and special events.

In Tehachapi, the group's arrival was followed by hugs from family and friends awaiting the riders, speeches and presentations by community organizations.

Second District Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner was among those who spoke. He congratulated Barrientos, Porter and Staat, who were honored with a proclamation by the Board of Supervisors last week and noted that Kern County has become the second "Purple Heart" county in California.

Several organizations presented proclamations and made financial contributions to help with the ride.

Barrientos thanked those gathered for a warm welcome on a cold day, and Staat drew attention to the number of Vietnam veterans in the crowd and said, "It's not about us, it's about you."

A send-off ceremony was planned for 7:30 a.m. Monday at The Apple Shed, with the riders set to be on the road by 8 a.m. en route to Edwards Air Force Base.