2024 Freedom Flag Run promotes patriotic participation

The 49th State Street Rodders hosted the 2024 Freedom Flag Run 9/11 Twin Towers Memorial Car Show Saturday, September 7.

This was a chance for vehement vehicle enthusiasts to come together to honor the lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attack while sharing their passion for just about anything with an engine.

Freedom Flag Run participants staged their vehicles at Wasilla High School and departed on a colorful convoy to the Alaska Raceway Park for a subsequent car show that showcased entries such as hot rods, muscle cars and vintage trucks.

Robert Kusmider's bright pink 1955 Nash Metropolitan stood out among the other vehicles. He said that he thinks that's what helped him win a multitude of car shows over the summer.

“The women and kids love it," Kusmider said with a laugh. “It’s a fun car.”

Kusmider marveled at all the other vehicles at the car show. He said it's exhilarating to see what people show up with.

“They're all gorgeous,” Kusmider said.

Kusmider lives in Anchorage. He said this was his first year participating with the Street Rodders and it's been an enjoyable experience. He said that he's felt abundantly welcome since he joined this Mat-Su Valley based club.

“They're great. They're nice people," Kusmider said. “There's no pressure here in the Valley. It's all about having fun.”

Alaska Raceway Park safety team leader John Akers said that he liked the car show.

“It's a nice event," Akers said.

Akers spent several years as a Mat-Su Borough firefighter. He said that it's important to pay tribute to the lives lost in the 9/11 terror attack and honor the country’s first responders and military members.

“It's just one of those times in history that you will never forget where you were when it happened," Akers said.

Carl Blocker, the 49th State Street Rodders Vice President, said that he remembers where he was on 9/11.

“I was getting ready for work. I called my boss and told him to ‘turn on the TV, you're not gonna believe what happened,’” Blocker said.

Blocker said that holding events like the Freedom Flag Run help ensure that the public doesn't forget what happened that fateful day in September.

“I think it's important to keep the memory there. We need to keep it in our minds because it can happen again,” Blocker said.

The Freedom Flag Run typically serves as the Street Rodders’ final event of the season. Blocker said that the spectator numbers were down this year but they still had a good amount of participation.

“It's kind of a bummer it's the last show but it's kind of bittersweet,” Blocker said. “It's not the end of the year yet. We still get to drive them a little bit. That's why I got into it. I love driving these things.”

49th State Street Rodders secretary Eileen Grape said they had a great season in spite of the unfavorable weather conditions.

“It was good. We were very busy,” Grape said. “The weather was our enemy this year, but we've had some good shows.”

For more information about the 49th State Street Rodders, visit statestreetrodders.com.