Blessed Sarnelli Community

Over the years, Fenway Park has been the scene of many great plays and players. Home of the Boston Red Sox, the team opened the season there in the spring of 1912 and closed it with a World Series win. On the field at Fenway, Babe Ruth began his professional career in 1914. Ted Williams, the last .400 hitter of the pastime, played all nineteen years of his professional career with the Sox. He retired at the top of his game in the fall of 1960, fittingly hitting a home run at his last at bat. One of Fenway's finest moments.

Nearly fifty years later, on New Year's Day 2010, the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins met in the NHL Winter Classic played in the park. An exciting game was witnessed by thousands within the stadium and millions elsewhere. A noble effort was put forth by both teams. In the end, the Bruins came home with the win in overtime.

Although the Flyers did not hold on for the prize that weekend, another team from Philadelphia did triumph. The Broad Street Bikers arrived through snow and ice at Fenway Park on a tandem bicycle all the way from Philadelphia! Scoring an overtime victory of three hundred plus miles in five days, Pat Montgomery and Drew Moriarity touched Fenway's celebrated wall as they slid into home at 6:00pm on New Year's Eve.

Hometown friends cheered as they celebrated with Winter Classic Champagne. Others called and sent notes. Locals and visitors in town for the game, who heard of them through news reports, congratulated their accomplishment. The next day many fans recognized them as they went into the game. They asked for pictures, shook hands, hugged and bought drinks. As the game aired, national sports commentators mentioned the two guys who had come all the way from Philly on a bike - not for themselves but others.

They carried little on their backs along the cold and gusty way, but in their hearts they held the presence of many who know that climate all too well: those who sleep on the streets of the inner city. For people who are poor and abandoned, Pat and Drew wheeled along - receiving food and hospitality from friends along the way, knowing that their trip would help provide the same for others.

As they peddled through small towns, hills and valleys, Christmas decorations could still be seen on many homes. Prevalent was the manger scene - with figures of the Christ Child, Mary and Joseph. After the birth of Jesus, the story is told of shepherds and wise men coming from afar, following a star, bringing gifts.

So it is with Pat and Drew... traveling a great distance, following their dream, reaching their goal. Their ride bearing gifts for the Christ Child present among people in need. The journey may have ended but the message of good will goes on. People perceived as losers are the true winners as they receive the prize in this classic winter story!

Blessings,

Kevin