Christmas Comes in July for American Legion Post 155 and LLUCH

“You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why …” Santa Claus came to town a little bit early and it was Christmas in July! On Sunday July 14, members of the American Legion Post 155 and the Crew Bikers for Charity came from throughout the Inland Empire in celebration of the 6th annual Christmas in July Motorcycle Run and Car Show event. The event was created with the main goal of bringing smiles to the faces of young patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). With a grand entrance of a roaring caravan of classic cars, motorcycles, and more, special appearances by superheroes like Batman and his trusty sidekick Robin, and Santa Claus himself, dressed for a summer’s day, brought smiles event-wide. Marlena Billalta, a pediatric patient at LLUCH who received a Monopoly board game and gift bag at the event, shared, “I feel so happy that Santa is here. I really enjoy that he continued to tell me that I can choose whatever I want.” Many other children who had come to visit Santa in his summer gear at LLUCH were also ecstatic seeing the plethora of various reading and coloring books, dolls, sports balls and board games they were able to choose from. The summer celebration began six years ago in an effort to bring joy to the children in the community. “This hospital is our backyard,” said John Mejia, Sons of the American Legion Commander, Post 155, “and as members of this community it is our responsibility to continue the support for all children. Our main objective is ‘to strengthen the family unit, to support quality organizations that provide service for children and youth and to provide communities with well-rounded programs that meet physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of young people.’” Some highlights, compliments of Don’s Lock and Key, included the original Batmobile from 1966, the Knight Rider vehicle “Kitt,” the DeLorean from “Back to the Future” and Herbie, the Love Bug from the movie of the same name. Martin Sanchez, a first-time participant and contributor to the Christmas in July event, showcased the actual “DeLorean” futuristic automobile featured in the movie “Back to the Future,” as well as many other automobiles that had been featured in popular movies. Martin Sanchez touchingly explained, “I have two children of my own who had come out of LLUCH, and I feel as though being part of something like this is a way for me to say ‘Thank you!’ as well as contribute my time to other children here just to see their faces light up, which is, hands down, the greatest reward of all.” “Kids of all ages look forward to Christmas every year, so this is an extra-special treat for our patients,” said LLUCH administrator Zareh Sarrafian. “I can’t express how thankful we are to have these organizations contribute to our kids like this.”