Two Navy veterans recently reunited to complete a great expedition across America.Jim Serger, 55, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Cory Hardy, 51, of Ennis, Montana, hadn’t seen each other in 30 years since serving together overseas.On July 14, the two friends embarked on a bike ride across the country – from California to New York City – in honor of the upcoming 25th anniversary of Sept.11.NEW JERSEY MAN WALKS ACROSS US TO RAISE NEARLY $100K FOR HOMELESS VETERANS: 'RESPECT AND REVERENCE'After writing three books for the nonprofit Tunnel to Towers, Serger said he felt he needed to challenge himself "with something bigger.""And why not wrangle in my old Navy buddy, who I hadn’t seen for 30 years, that I knew was a tremendous bicyclist," he told Fox News Digital.
"Back in January, I said, ‘Would you like to go on this trip?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely, Jimmy, count me in.’"Navy veterans Jim Serger (left) and Cory Hardy (right) set off to bike across the country, starting in San Diego, California, on July 14, 2026.(Jim Serger)Hardy said he’s always viewed himself as "incredibly patriotic," as he’s been granted "so many opportunities" through the military to see the world and get an education."When Jim approached me about the idea of doing this, I was like, ‘Wow, this is awesome.
This is something that I can do,’" he shared."It's the 250th anniversary of our country and the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and I don't want to forget, and I want people to keep it at the forefront of their minds."TUNNEL TO TOWERS 5K DRAWS 40,000 PEOPLE TO HONOR 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS IN NYCSerger trained for 10 months, logging 5,000 miles on an indoor trainer.When spring came, he hit the trails around Cincinnati.A few months later, the duo began their journey in San Diego and headed east.
They were met with 20 road closures, a fire and flooding in Colorado, two flat tires, three bike shop visits and lots of backroad maneuvering.A map depicts Serger's and Hardy's bike route across...