Tail-wagging time: Tiny the Fire Dog fires up the Thurston Classic crowd
The floppy-eared puppy was full of fire, rightfully so as he symbolizes fire service and public safety. Tiny was front and center of the nine balloons for the night glow at Allegheny College's Robertson Athletic Complex, and he had quite a few admirers. The Anderson family was in the sea of hundreds who lined the field. In its 35 years, the Thurston Classic has gained a loyal following. Traveling all the way from Pittsburgh, Erin Anderson recalled her time watching the event as a child.
'I grew up on Doughty (Avenue) and we used to watch and enjoy it,' she said, remembering how she could see the balloons float over her house as she relaxed in the pool. Now, adorned in her Meadville sweatshirt, she brought her own children to see it.
'They were really excited to come down and see it,' she said, noting that they haven't really been old enough to remember it until now.
Eliza, 6, said she was looking forward to seeing all the balloons: '100 percent — I love them.'
She was on the lookout for her favorite colors — pink, purple and yellow — and twirled around, blowing bubbles with her little brother before the big event.
'She was telling — before we left Pittsburgh — everyone about how she was going to see hot air balloons,' Erin said. 'She was bragging because people were like, 'Where are the hot air balloons?' 'You have to go to Meadville to see it,'' she would reply.
Each balloon takes a small crew of around four or five members to help the pilot, who inflates the balloon with cold air, then blasts hot air to make the balloon stand up. The process takes about 15 minutes and is a craft for balloon pilots. Coming from all over the country, the Thurston Classic is a favorite for pilots from all over.
One balloon was left standing after the rest though: Daydreamer.
Standing with its black bottom bellowing into a rainbow top, the balloon is the late Roger Miller's. Miller died just three weeks before the Thurston Classic, and as 'a special sendoff,' his balloon was kept inflated for about five minutes longer than the others, Balloonmeister Alex Jonard II said.
Although the wind gave some of the balloons trouble, it was no match for the Daydreamer, which glowed above them all.
'There's not a dry eye, and there's an empty box of Kleenex here,' Jonard said. 'We appreciate the family letting us have the balloon here for a special tribute.'
The weekend continues with a total of 21 balloons, taking an evening flight scheduled today, followed by morning and evening sanctioned races on Saturday and another race on Sunday morning.
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