A Blessing of the Motorcycles Will Be Held in the City of San Fernando 

Many are  familiar with the Blessing of the Animals, since this popular ceremony has been held annually for many years at downtown Olvera Street and at various local parks.  But, for the first time, the local biker community will be holding an inaugural Blessing of the Motorcycles event this Saturday, Aug. 1, at Las Palmas Park in the City of San Fernando.

This event is open to all riders, but the organizers are emphasizing offering blessings to the large number of military veterans who are bikers. 

Next week, beginning Aug. 7, is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, in which many veterans participate. There’s also a motorcycle club of veterans that rides annually to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

So before they head off on their journey, a blessing will be given by Father Andrew Hedstrom of St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, who will lead a prayer for protection and safe travels for the riders.

Jerry “Chubby” Hernandez, the owner of Chubby Automotive in Sylmar, is one of the main organizers of the event who came up with the idea. He and four other riders quickly moved forward to organize this Saturday’s event.

 They’ve also been proposing another idea in support of local veterans.

“We want to build a veterans wall inside Las Palmas Park with their names, dead or alive, for those who’ve served and are from the City of San Fernando,” Hernandez said.

 “We want to put something up to acknowledge and honor them. We’re trying to get the city to agree to let us have it, but they haven’t agreed on the location. The people at the city mentioned San Fernando Recreation Park, or possibly the location where the Cesar Chavez Memorial has been or Las Palmas Park. We would like it to be at Las Palmas,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said they’re currently working to form a nonprofit, which would be named 7 Palms, so people can donate to the project to defray the costs because he said, while city officials said they support the project, they also told them they don’t have any money.

Although he’s not a veteran himself, Hernandez has several family members who have served, and considers himself a strong supporter of veterans. He helped to rebuild the interior of the local VFW.

“They served our country. I’m trying to give back,” he said.

It’s estimated that 100 bikers will be attending Saturday’s event. Free food and refreshments will be provided by Gabby Linares, co-owner of James Restaurant. 

Actor Danny Trejo, a lifelong friend of Hernandez, will be at the event riding in on his own motorcycle.

The Blessing of the Motorcycles will be held at Las Palmas Park on 505 S. Huntington St. The gathering begins at 8 a.m., and the formal blessing is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Editor Diana Martinez contributed to this article.