Published: May 25, 2009 10:55 pm      

‘It’s very patriotic’: Bike-decorating contest among holiday events

Glitter, tassels, banners and flags were all the rage Monday as Westmont Borough held its annual Memorial Day bicycle-decorating contest.

Scores of contestants started lining up at the middle school as early as 7:30 a.m. in a scene that evoked a simpler America.

You half expected John Philip Sousa’s band to come marching through.

As each age group was called, the kids rode their bikes in a circle before the judges’ watchful eyes – and quickly became discombobulated, wobbly handlebars trying to avoid fellow riders and onlooking adults.

Missy Pastorek of Upper Yoder Township had a larger purpose in mind when she brought her children, Sidney, 2, and Abbie, 5, to the competition.

“It helps them to understand what’s going on (with the holiday) without getting into too much detail,’’ she said. Little Sidney was one of the two winners announced in the 2 and younger age bracket.

Karin Rosendale of Westmont guided her daughter’s balloon-strewn bike to the spot where the 9- and 10-year-olds were lining up.

She said her daughter Stephanie did a lot of the decorating but, with prodding, admitted that the decorating was a project involving three generations of her family.

“It’s just great for the kids,’’ said Steve Johncola of Southmont, shepherding his daughter, Isabella, age 4. “And every year it seems to get bigger and bigger.’’

Jennifer Conrad of the

Pittsburgh area said she came for “crowd control,’’ as she kept an eye on her husband Shawn’s cousin Lauren Kozak, 7, of the West Hills.

“I’ve never seen this many bikes before,’’ Conrad said. “It’s very patriotic.’’

Fox Millinder had no grand theme for his bicycle.

“We just found stuff in our basement,’’ the Southmont boy said. Whatever they dug up worked: Fox won in the 11-12 age bracket.

After the contest, the children took part in a mile-long parade to Grandview Cemetery.

There, retired Navy chaplain F. Alexander Ganzy said Americans “owe our thanks and owe our honor’’ to those who paid the ultimate price for keeping the nation free for more than 200 years. He said they fought for those who could not fight for themselves.

As residents sleep tonight on cushiony mattresses and down pillows, he said, half a world away “servicemen will be sleeping on the desert floor.’’ As we enjoy barbecue, Ganzy said, those overseas will be eating MREs.

Jim Rocco of Westmont lost friends in Vietnam and was among those who attended the graveside honors.

“It feels like an obligation,’’ he said.

VFW Menoher Post 155 and

the Korean Service Veterans Association were among those taking part in the ceremonies.

The fallen also were on the minds of those who attended a service at Sandyvale Cemetery in Johnstown.

Stacie Potts of the city brought her three young kids.

“I wanted my children to see a Memorial Day celebration and how important military men and women are to our country,’’ she said. “They ask questions. When they see soldiers, I tell them it’s to keep them safe.’’

Two helicopters took part in a flyover and landed on the grounds.

Keynote speaker Lt. Col. Craig Minnick of the Army Reserve said he is confident this generation of service men and women will be as successful as those in the past in preserving the American way of life.

Minnick said the U.S. has taken part in 85 wars and military actions, and noted the sacrifices of those in uniform.

“These patriots gave up their tomorrows for our todays,’’ he said.

The duty remains to take care of disabled veterans as well as the orphans, widows and widowers of fallen soldiers, Minnick said.