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Members of AMVETS Post 1978 pose for a photo Saturday during the second annual Blessing of the Bikes event in Niles. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)

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NILES — Motorcycles of all varieties and sizes descended upon Niles Saturday.

AMVETS Post 1978 and AMVETS Riders hosted their second annual Blessing of the Bikes Saturday, April 27 at AMVETS 1978, 1117 E. Bertrand Rd., Niles. Participants were greeted with coffee and donuts before kickstands went up at 12:30 p.m. for the 50-mile ride escorted by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office. After the ride, the family-friendly event featured a 50/50 drawing, a “not so silent” auction, music by “Work in Progress” and food and door prizes.

AMVETS Post 1978 member Cindy Wolkens created the event last year as a way to bring bike enthusiasts together and bless their rides for a safe year. She said approximately 50 riders participated last year.

“There’s nothing in this area like this,” she said. “They’ve got one in Elkhart and Michigan City but there’s nothing in our area so I thought well let’s try it and see how it goes.”

For Wolkens, seeing her hard work brought to life to support the post meant a lot.

“It means a lot,” she said. “We’ve done a lot of hard work. All the different groups that make up the AMVets are all here to help out too because it all benefits the post.”

With the Blessing of the Bikes in the books, AMVETS Post 1978 is gearing up for its second annual Spring Market to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at the post. More than 70 vendors are expected to be on hand for the event.

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