Fallen Heroes Ride Rolls 39 Miles From Lakeland To Lake Wales On Nov. 14
Motorcyclists will ride 39 escorted miles from Lakeland to Lake Wales on Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Fallen Heroes Ride. Each mile stands for one of the 39 law enforcement officers named on the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial.
Kickstands go up at 10 a.m. at the memorial, where 700 W. Lime St. meets Lake Beulah Drive in Lakeland. The memorial is open to the public around the clock. The ride finishes at Lake Wailes Park in Lake Wales. Organizers say food, vendors, and community supporters will be waiting for riders and for anyone who turns out to meet them.
Registration costs $35 per bike. Riders who sign up before the day of the ride get an event T-shirt at no extra charge.
The Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Inc. presents the ride as “39 Miles for 39 Heroes.” The fund is a 501(c)(3) charity registered with the state. Lakeland Harley-Davidson and the law firm Lopez & Humphries, P.A. are listed as sponsors.
The names on the memorial honor fallen heroes from across the county. They include deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Fort Meade, Frostproof and Haines City police departments. A Bartow town marshal and two Polk County constables are also among them. Others served with the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (previously named the Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission), the state’s alcoholic beverages & tobacco division, and the Department of Corrections.
Mulberry put the ride on its Nov. 3 commission agenda. A proclamation from Mayor George H. Hatch recognizes Nov. 14 as a day to honor and remember fallen law enforcement officers. It asks residents to thank officers still serving and remember “the families who carry the enduring burden of their loved ones’ sacrifice.”
The fund and the Fraternal Order of Police Polk County Lodge #46 also present the Polk County Peace Officers’ Memorial ceremony at the Lakeland site. This year’s ceremony was held May 7.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Fallen Heroes Ride in Polk County?
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. Kickstands go up at 10 a.m. at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial in Lakeland.
How much does it cost to ride in the Fallen Heroes Ride?
$35 per bike. Riders who register before the day of the ride also receive an event T-shirt at no extra charge.
Where does the Fallen Heroes Ride start and finish?
It starts at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial, where 700 W. Lime St. meets Lake Beulah Drive in Lakeland. It finishes at Lake Wailes Park in Lake Wales. Organizers have planned food and vendors there.
Why is the Fallen Heroes Ride 39 miles long?
One mile for each of the 39 fallen officers and deputies named on the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial. Organizers call the 2026 ride “39 Miles for 39 Heroes.”
Who benefits from the Fallen Heroes Ride?
The Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity registered with the state of Florida under CH 15824. The fund’s ride listing does not say how the money raised will be spent.
Sources: “2026 Fallen Heroes Ride: 39 Miles for 39 Heroes,” Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Inc., polkfallenheroes.org, undated; “Roll Call of Heroes,” Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Inc., polkfallenheroes.org, undated; “2026 Honoring the Fallen Heroes Ride,” agenda item report and proclamation, City of Mulberry, cityofmulberryfl.civicweb.net, Nov. 3, 2026; “City Commission Agenda, Nov. 3, 2026,” City of Mulberry, cityofmulberryfl.civicweb.net, Nov. 3, 2026.
