Meet the women who star-spangle Saratoga Village

Retired registered nurse Patricia Himel has lived in Saratoga for a long time, but would never stick around for the Fourth of July.

In her words, the Fourth of July was bigger than Christmas. She is descended from a family that has lived in the United States since the 1600s, both her parents fought in World War II and the holiday itself was her mother’s birthday. But in Saratoga, it was just another day.

Laurel Perusa, a retired school teacher, is descended from a family that came to the U.S. on the Mayflower. Himel and Perusa bonded over their shared love for Independence Day and launched a plan to bring some Fourth of July festivity to Saratoga in 2011.

“For me, Fourth of July is about our heritage, our history–all the people who have made our country strong–and hopes for our future,” Perusa said.

“We grew up loving our country, and this is our way of showing it and hoping that we can bring other people from other countries the knowledge and joy of this one,” Himel said.

Now, their “America the Beautiful” project stretches down Big Basin Way every year. Perusa pointed out several buildings along Big Basin Way with decorations. Stark Complete Real Estate Services in Suite 15 of 14440 Big Basin Way has a 2-by-3-foot flag created by a master macrame artist from India who was visiting her family in Saratoga and gave it to Perusa and Himel as a donation.

On Third Street, if you turn southeast from Big Basin Way, there’s an awning lined with six patriotic windsocks that look “spectacular,” Perusa said.

Himel has a passion for American flags, specifically those that don’t have all 50 stars. She said there were two or three flags with only 35 stars, which became the official U.S. flag in 1863 after West Virginia was admitted into the union. It was flown at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina after Union soldiers retook the fort. Of the several flags flying at a bookstore on Oak Street, Himel said the middle one has 35 stars. There is also another 35-star flag up on the gate at Hero Ranch Kitchen. Bai Tong Thai Bistro has a 48-star flag in its window.

“Why not use it as a history lesson?” Himel said.

When the two women launched the project, they tried to make decorations on their own, sticking several small red, white and blue pinwheels into planters, filling in patriotic coloring books and sticking colorful placemats onto their windows, but they were too difficult to see, Himel said.

That inspired them to go bigger with the decorations. The project started small, with Perusa and Himel putting decorations up in 20 to 30 areas throughout Saratoga Village, but it has since grown to 70 to 80 decorated spots. As the women gained notoriety, they purchased more decorations and accepted donations from other residents. This year, around 10 volunteers helped decorate the Village, including two students from Redwood Middle School and Saratoga High School. They started decorating on the Monday after Father’s Day.

“Some business owners decorate, and I appreciate that, then some Saratoga residents decorate, and we have students who come in and help us,” Perusa said. “It’s really a community event.”

Himel and Perusa asked business owners in the Village to put up decorations, and some have. Perusa highlighted the Star One Credit Union at 14411 Big Basin Way for “going all out” with red, white and blue bunting and flags hanging from its building. She also mentioned that Steve Cali decorated his own buildings, which house Hong’s Gourmet and Florentine, by flying multiple American flags for the holiday.

The decorations will be up until the end of the month for the Saratoga Car Show.

“Not everybody sees everything we’re doing unless you walk down the street looking for it,” Himel said.