New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, “Piano Man” Billy Joel and firefighters roared to Ground Zero in a 9/11 memorial motorcycle ride Wednesday morning.
Cuomo, on a black Harley-Davidson, and songwriter Joel, on a blue-and-white Drifter, led dozens of bikers from the Rescue 1 firehouse on W. 43rd St. to the World Trade Center site.
“It's going to be great, huh?” Cuomo said to members of the Fire Riders motorcycle club after riding the Harley to the firehouse from his home in Mount Kisco.
Cuomo later explained why he invited Joel to join him. “He's the quintessential New York citizen who never forgot where he came from,” Cuomo said.
The Long Islander appeared humbled.
“It's an honor,” Joel told the Daily News. “I was at Ground Zero a few days after 9/11 and it was the worst thing I ever saw in my life. To be asked to do this is very moving.”
Read more at the New York Daily News.
Pictured (L-R) : Singer Billy Joel, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Paul Teutul attend a ceremony for first responders, including members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) motorcycle club on September 11, 2013 in New York City. Photo credit: John Moore, Getty Images
Photo credit (top) : Marcus Santos, New York Daily News