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The Burtonsville Cruise-In car show, a Burtonsville Day tradition, featured roughly 20 classic cars as eye candy for residents. Visitors could explore restored interiors and freshly waxed paint jobs before voting on their favorites. The People's Choice Award was a tie between Tom Marshall's white 1960 Chevrolet and George Suh's orange 1972 Dodge Challenger, according to event organizer Bob Hart. Kerry Griffin, featured in this slide show, won two of the five pure stock awards for his '52 Chevy Fleetline and '63 Lincoln Continental, Hart said.

There's no greater loss than the loss of a child, says Lee Pfeffer, owner of two child day-care centers.

While Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is often kept quiet by parents who have lost children, Pfeffer said he wanted to draw attention to the syndrome and raise funds to benefit research. So Pfeffer and his wife Cecelia hosted a SIDS charity walk during Burtonsville Day last Saturday. Dozens of walkers circled around the lake of the Greencastle Lakes community to bring the community together to support the cause.

"We found that there are actually local people who have lost children — whether they're infants or children—and it's a very personal thing," he said. "You don't really hear about it unless you're a neighbor or a family member." As owners of two Learning Tree Child Development Centers—one in Burtonsville and the other in Annapolis—the Pfeffers said it's a cause close to their hearts.

The walk, now in its fourth year, benefits the Center for Infant and Child Loss and SIDS-affected families. It brought out roughly 25 participants on the overcast Saturday morning, according to Pfeffer. The Pfeffers raised about $300, a figure Cecelia Pfeffer said may be modest, but is one small way the community can contribute to help families who have suffered through the loss of a child.

The SIDS walk was just one event in a day full of activities for Burtonsville residents.

After the early morning walk, many headed over to the 19th Burtonsville Day community celebration to watch cheerleaders march in the parade, taste some of the much-anticipated pit beef or sausage and pepper sandwiches, or compete in a game of tug of war. The event is designed to bring neighbors together in the small community for a day of festivities.

The event also served to support a good cause.

Beyond acting as a fundraiser, the SIDS walk helped raise awareness for the syndrome. The Pfeffers handed out pamphlets advising parents to put their children to sleep on their backs, among other prevention techniques. Though the cause of SIDS remains a mystery, Pfeffer said he trains staff and parents on procedures proven to minimize the chance of losing a child.

Burtonsville residents participating in the walk said they were happy to help out a worthy cause and saw the event as a way to kick off a favorite annual tradition.

"We wanted to come out and participate and show our support," said Burtonsville resident Cathy Shry, who walked with her husband, Mark, and 16-year-old daughter Athena. "Since it wasn't raining, we thought it would be a great way to start Burtonsville Day, because we love Burtonsville day," she added.

The Macenczak family joined in as well.

"We've been doing it for years, I'd say, but I still get lost," said John Macenczak, who walked with wife, Barbara, and 7-year-old daughter Hannah. The family unintentionally got in extra exercise when they walked around the lake twice before they remembered the way back to the community pool house.

The tradition will continue next year at the 20th Burtonsville Day Celebration, but for now, Lee Pfeffer said he's excited to give the donation to the Center for Infant and Child Loss so it can help affected families.

"They really need that shoulder to lean on to help them through that tough part in their life," he said.