But this year, grief is the overriding emotion in the close-knit community as Route 88 motorists en route to the event quickly discover.

"You're Our Hero, Ryan Lane, in Memory" is the marquee message at the Castle Tavern from owners Jan Toci and son Michael Morabito about U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, who died July 23 of wounds suffered in combat in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

He is the son of former Castle Shannon police chief Harold Lane and Kathy Hanley, and the brother of borough police Sgt. David Lane.

"My son knew Ryan from high school, and we knew the chief from the business," said Ms. Toci.

At Calabria's Restaurant, the sign proclaims "In loving memory of Sgt. Ryan Lane."

"It is out of respect for him serving our country, and for his family. Both the chief and Officer Lane ate here and a lot of our customers are friends of theirs," said owner Michael Calabria of the tightly-linked neighborhood.

Sgt. Lane was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He and wife, Valerie, formerly of Carrick, recently bought a house.

It was his second tour in the country, for which he volunteered.

"He was a Marine. He had to go back as he couldn't leave his guys. He was a wonderful guy," said family friend and borough police secretary Shirley McMonagle, who knew him since he was a baby.

"He played catcher in baseball, and no one wants to catch. But he loved the game," she said.

Sgt. Lane was the youngest of four brothers. After graduating from Keystone Oaks High School, he joined the Marines in 2002.

Last month, after 39 years on the Castle Shannon police force, his father became director of the new Crime Scene Investigations Unit in the Dormont office of the county district attorney.

Funeral arrangements for Sgt. Lane are incomplete, but viewing will take place at Slater Funeral Home in Scott in the coming days.

"I feel like I knew him as his father would always brag about him and his service," said Castle Shannon Mayor Donald Baumgarten.

"He joined the Marines and loved it," he said.

The home page of the borough's Web site also is in remembrance of Sgt. Lane. Funeral arrangements will be listed on http://borough.castle-shannon.pa.us/ when they became available.