Kentucky Brotherhood Bike Ride stops in Bowling Green to honor fallen first responders
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — First responders from across Kentucky made a stop in Bowling Green on Thursday as part of the seventh annual Kentucky Brotherhood Bike Ride, a more than 350-mile journey honoring those who have died in the line of duty.
The ride began Wednesday in Paducah and continued through Trigg County before cyclists arrived in Bowling Green on the second day of the event. Riders were escorted into the city by local police and fire agencies before stopping at the Bowling Green Fire Department and Western Kentucky University.
Among the participants were four members of the Bowling Green Fire Department, including firefighter Dylan Hawkins, who described the welcome into the city as emotional.
“It was immensely emotional,” Hawkins said. “Having Kentucky State Police and the Bowling Green Police Department out there welcoming us, stopping traffic and supporting us meant a lot.”
While in Bowling Green, participants held a brief ceremony honoring Stephen “Rosie” Rosebrook, a Bowling Green firefighter who died in 2024 after participating in a 10K race.
“Rosie was a man who touched a lot of people,” Hawkins said. “To know that so many people came out to honor him during this difficult year for his family would have meant the world to him.”
Bowling Green Fire Chief Justin Brooks said the ride serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by first responders across the state.
“It means a lot,” Brooks said. “Their mission is to remember the fallen. It’s a ride of almost 400 miles to bring awareness to the lives that many people don’t get to see, but we feel that loss every day.”
Kentucky State Police Trooper Katan Parker, who helped escort the cyclists into Bowling Green, said watching the riders complete such a demanding journey was inspiring.
“I felt motivated,” Parker said. “These riders are doing something extremely strenuous, and they never complained. Seeing that dedication makes you want to get up and do something yourself.”
The Kentucky Brotherhood Bike Ride will continue across the state over the coming days before concluding in Bardstown. Organizers say the annual ride honors fallen first responders while raising awareness of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency personnel who serve Kentucky communities.
