‘Burgers and Bikes’ celebrates local first responders

MT. PLEASANT - The annual Burgers and Bikes event celebrated local first responders in Mt. Pleasant’s Central Park on Saturday.

This is the fourth year motorcycle enthusiasts have gathered on Main Street around Central Park to honor each other and responders, including the police and fire departments.

Around 50 bikes turned up at the event. In the past, they’ve had as many as 250.

Despite the lower numbers of attendees, it doesn’t take away from the message the event sends.

“I think it’s very important we honor those people,” Executive Director of Main Street Lisa Oetken said. “We celebrate because it’s 9/11, but if you think about it, they work every day for us. Those people, especially our fire department, that’s all-volunteer. That’s not their job, but they protect us.”

The event has always taken place around 9/11, Oetken said, but this is the second time it’s been on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Many of the attendees who bring bikes have been in the military or police, and the celebration is like seeing brothers and sisters again.

“It’s just a great moment for brothers to meet and greet,” Chris LaMore, who is the owner of Big Dog Tattoos, said. “There’s bike blessings, and it’s just been awesome.”

LaMore, who is one of the biggest sponsors of the event, said bike gatherings can happen anytime, but not always like this, and that’s thanks to Oetken.

“We’re just honoring that day,” LaMore said. “That’s because of this young lady right here. Honestly, we can do a bike night without having a reason, but she came up with a phenomenal reason.”

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