Nearly 100 Harley-Davidson motorcycles rumbled through Aviano, Italy, Saturday morning on their way to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Monte for the annual Blessing of the Bikes event. (Russ Rizzo / S&S)
Nearly 100 Harley-Davidson motorcycles rumbled through Aviano, Italy, Saturday morning on their way to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Monte for the annual Blessing of the Bikes event. (Russ Rizzo / S&S)
Chaplain (Capt.) Jack Stanley, center, a base chaplain at Aviano Air Base, blesses the Harley- Davidson Electra Glide Standard motorcycle of Lores Caletti, left, as Caletti's 11-year-old daughter, Jennifer, and a translator watch. (Russ Rizzo / S&S)
The Aviano, Italy, chapter of the Harley Owners Group has participated in the annual Blessing of the Bikes for 13 years. Members receive patches to mark the years they participated. (Russ Rizzo / S&S)
AVIANO, Italy — The rumbling began at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in this small Italian town known mostly for its U.S. military presence.
About 50 Harley-Davidson motorcycles fired up at the Western House bar, giving off the distinctive Harley blub-blub-blub that is music to the ears of motorcycle lovers — but not to anyone attempting to hold a conversation nearby.
“I hope nobody’s trying to sleep late today,” Master Sgt. Alex Shepherd, of the 31st Logistical Readiness Squadron at Aviano Air Base, said jokingly as the hogs roared to life.
Members of five Harley Owners Group, or H.O.G., chapters, from northern Italy rode up a hill to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Monte, a local church called the “Chrome Dome” for its shiny dome, for the annual Blessing of the Bikes. There, they met with around 50 more motorcycle enthusiasts, making a crowd of about 100 Italian and American riders from Aviano, Pordenone, Vicenza, Padua and Treviso.
The Blessing of the Bikes is an annual event held by Harley owners around the world to officially kick off the motorcycling season. It not only serves as a fun way to bring people together, but is also taken seriously by some riders who welcome protection from above while they ride, said Chaplain (Capt.) Jack Stanley, who blessed each motorcycle and its owner with a short prayer.
“Some people do it for the tradition and the fun, and others do it because they realize that riding is dangerous and they realize having a little bit of God on their side helps,” Stanley said.
Stopping at each bike, Stanley dripped water from a bucket onto the motorcycle and the helmet of the owner and said: “Bless this motorcycle and protect this motorcyclist. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
He offered an Italian translation for Italian owners.
It was the first blessing for the 20 members of the newly created Vincenza chapter, said founding member Ermanno Grigolato, who rode his Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide to the event.
A handful of sport motorcycle riders from Aviano Air Base, including Shepherd on his Suzuki Hayabusa “crotch rocket,” also attended the event.
Wayne Parks, director of the Aviano H.O.G. and a civilian who works as a service supervisor at Aviano Air Base, coordinated the event. Aviano’s chapter is the only Harley group in the country with American members only, he said, and it is the only one he knew of that received recognition without the sponsorship of a local Harley dealership. Harley headquarters allowed the exception because there is no dealership in Aviano, he said.
When Stanley came to Parks to offer a prayer, Parks told him: “Please. I put a lot of miles on it.”
He estimated he puts 10,000 miles each year on his 100th Anniversary Electra Glide Ultra Classic.
