RAGBRAI theme cELEBRATES HOMETOWN FOR HEROES

Norwalk will celebrate as the Hometown for Heroes when 10,000-plus bicyclists and their support crews pedal into town on Tuesday, July 23, on RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.   How does the community claim the title?
 
 “We’re proud to be a community known for heroes of all types, not just our celebrity heroes like Brandon Routh and Jason Momoa, as much as we love them, “says RAGBRAI Committee Co-Chair Jaki Livingston.
 
“We chose our theme – Hometown for Heroes – because we want to emphasize that there are many, many amazing people in our community who do heroic acts every day,” she adds.  “We recognize that our heroes certainly include educators, law enforcement, firefighters and EMS,  active duty and veterans of the military,  business owners and their staffs, the medical community and caregivers, members of the clergy, volunteers,  active families and especially neighbors helping neighbors.  We ARE a Hometown for these heroes and many more.”
 
Co-chair Jim Lane agrees: “RAGBRAI gives us the perfect opportunity to salute all the people in Norwalk who make this a special community.  We will celebrate our successes as thousands of visitors enjoy music, great Iowa food, photo opportunities, and more at a day-long event.”
 
Riding by Freedom Rock
 
Lane notes that RAGBRAI’s route has been changed to allow bicyclists to visit the Warren County Freedom Rock at Warrior Run on the edge of Norwalk.  Previously, riders were to head south a mile sooner but now can stop for photo opportunities at the 10-ton boulder painted by artist Bubba Sorenson commemorating the USS Iowa and a Warren County soldier heroic in World War II.
 
 Livingston and Lane cited just a few of the local heroes who will be saluted throughout the day from the music stage in City Park

• Three Norwalk firefighters received awards for saving lives in the past year.
• Three teachers in Norwalk Community School District were named Teachers of the Year.
• 24 teams of students at Norwalk High School earned state, regional and even world honors, including the boys’ basketball team which played for the Iowa state championship in March
• Norwalk’s Robo Warriors, a team of inventive students, competed internationally

 
 
Celebrating  Community
 
“RAGBRAI could not come to Norwalk at a more exciting time,” Livingston said.  “We have so much to celebrate and so much happening.  Now we get to share our community with people from all over the world who come to Iowa for RAGBRAI.”
 
RAGBRAI riders will hear other good news about Norwalk, Lane says:

• Norwalk is recognized as the safest city in Iowa for the past two years.  
• Norwalk is among the top 10 fastest growing cities in Iowa as its population has nearly doubled to an estimated 12,000-plus since the last U.S. census.
• Norwalk has a successful international sister-city partnership with Vushtrri, Kosovo, and Kosovo is now offering free land and other resources for U.S. businesses, thanks to its partnership with Norwalk.
• Norwalk growth – 441 new houses in the past two years – is demonstrated by construction of the new Orchard Hills Elementary School which will open in August

 
 Join us Tuesday, July 23rd for a fun-filled Norwalk celebration!