Friday, May 28, 2010

Memorial Day events scheduled throughout the region this weekend

Local Memorial Day events are scheduled throughout the area.

ALLENTOWN -- A commemoration to remember the Pennsylvania military members who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 will be held from dawn to dusk Monday at Cedar Beach Park (behind Cedar Pool), Hamilton and South Ott streets. Co-sponsored by Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern (LEPOCO) and Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace. Information: 610-691-8730.

ALLENTOWN -- Visitors to the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum at historic Zion’s Reformed Church, 622 W. Hamilton St., will be able to talk with a Revolutionary War soldier, noon to 4 p.m. Monday. Portrayed by Museum Curator Joshua Fink, Revolutionary War Soldier Joseph Plumb Martin will come to life and share some of his experiences as a soldier.

BANGOR -- A ceremony honoring those who have died in service to their country will begin at 10 a.m. in St. John’s Cemetery at 4th Street and Broadway. The American Legion’s parade will kick off immediately following the ceremony and move downtown to Founder’s Park. The honored guest will be the unknown soldier represented by a riderless horse named Tee provided by Saddlebrook Farm in Lower Mt. Bethel Township. The parade will be led by Tee, escorted by retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baylis who recently returned from the Middle East war zone. The Bangor Area High School Marching Band, children from local Scout programs and Sea Cadets, fire engines and a 30-foot by 50-foot garrison flag will be featured. A luncheon will follow at the American Legion. Information: 610-435-4232 or libertybellmuseum.org
BELVIDERE -- The Belvidere American Legion Post No. 131 will host a parade Monday. The parade will form in front of 122 Greenwich St. at 8:30 a.m. and will begin at 9 a.m. A ceremony will be held at the Belvidere Cemetery on Oxford Street at 9:30 a.m. honoring all veterans who have died in the past year.
BETHLEHEM -- United Veterans of Bethlehem, Harry F. W. Johnson Post # 379 and the City of Bethlehem will co-host the city’s Memorial Day parade and service beginning at 9 a.m. Monday in front of Liberty High School, 1115 Linden St. Parade route ends approximately 10 a.m. at the American Legion flagpole in Memorial Park Cemetery. Guest speaker will be Frank Ginther, Navy Veteran, U.S.S. Pueblo POW, Station Manager WJCS. Information: 610-866-3835.


BLAIRSTOWN TWP. -- American Legion Post 258 on Sunday will sponsor the 65th annual Memorial Day Parade in Blairstown. Services are scheduled at noon in Cedar Ridge Cemetery on Route 94 with the parade following immediately thereafter.
EASTON -- The 53rd annual Veterans Memorial Day Council of the Easton Area parade starts 9:30 a.m. Monday at Jackson and Seventh streets. The parade will make its way to a service at Scott Park. Mayors from Easton and Phillipsburg will meet on the free bridge, where they will drop a memorial wreath into the water. Finally, the program will wrap up at Centre Square, Third and Northampton streets, Easton. In the event of rain, the program will start 11 a.m. at the Governor Wolf Building, 45 N. Second St., Easton.
EASTON -- The South Side Civic Association and Rice Ebner American Legion Auxiliary will hold a service at 1 p.m. Monday at McKeen Park, Reynolds and Berwick Sts.
GLEN GARDNER -- Glen Gardner VFW Memorial Post 5119, 179 Main St., is holding a Memorial Day ceremony and awards program for three $1,000 scholarship winners at 10 a.m. Monday. Cake and coffee will be served afterward. All are welcome.
HANOVER TWP. -- State Rep. Julie Harhart will be the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day Service Monday at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Airport Road. Congressman Charles Dent, State Sen. Pat Browne and State Rep. Jennifer Mann will also be in attendance along with Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham and Northampton County Executive John Stoffa. This annual service at the cemetery begins at 11:45 a.m. Refreshments will be served in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum following the ceremony and all families of veterans, past and present, and the general public are invited. Information: 610-437-5534.

HELLERTOWN -- American Legion Post 397 will hold its Memorial Day event 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Union Cemetery, 85-89 Main St. Guest Speaker is state Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton. Information: 610-759-9900

NAZARETH -- The American Legion is sponsoring a parade and services to honor veterans and military service members. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday in Center Square, travel on South Main Street then onto Prospect Street to South Broad Street. The route turns north on South Broad Street and back to Center Square, then onto South Main again to Mauch Chunk Street and ends at Memorial Square next to Borough Hall where Judge Edward Smith will be the keynote speaker for formal services. Smith is a Navy veteran. The parade will pause at the Nazareth VFW for a bugler to play taps. Pictures drawn by local children will be on display and will be sent to troops serving overseas after Memorial Day celebrations.

PHILLIPSBURG -- American Legion Bernardine-May Post No. 457 is holding Memorial Day services at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Shappell Park, South Main and Sitgreaves streets. Participants are slated to gather on Abbott Street between Sitgreaves and South Main streets and start a procession at 9 a.m. sharp. The keynote speaker is Iraq veteran Tyler Loudenberry, with patriotic musical selections from Patti Lutz, Charlie Bowlby and the Phillipsburg High School marching band. After the service, the procession heads north on South Main Street for a wreath-drop and flyover about 10:45 a.m. on the free bridge with Easton veterans and officials. Click here to find a list of Memorial Day road closures.

RIEGELSVILLE -- The American Legion Post 950 will host a parade 1 p.m. Sunday beginning at the Riegelsville Fire House. The parade travels Easton Road to West on Elmwood Lane to the cemetery with stops and events at the river bridge, the World War I monument and the cemetery. Refreshments will be served after at the legion home, 220 Ash Lane. In the event of rain, a service will be held 1 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.


ROSETO -- In observance of Memorial Day, members of the Martocci-Capobianco American Legion Post No. 750 in Roseto will depart from the post home at 8:30 a.m. Monday and proceed to the New Catholic Cemetery, where services will be held at 9 a.m. The contingent will move to the Roseto Presbyterian Cemetery on Liberty Street for services at 9:30 a.m. The final graveside services will be held at the Catholic cemetery adjacent to Our Lady of Mt Carmel church at 10 a.m. From this cemetery the legionnaires will proceed to the Municipal Plaza on Garibaldi Ave for the Community Services at the War Monuments beginning at 10:45 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the community services will be held indoors at the Post Home at 143 Garibaldi Ave.

STEWARTSVILLE -- American Legion Post 456 will hold its Memorial Day parade beginning 10 a.m. Monday at Willever Way. The parade will travel on Main Street to Greenwich Street. Post Commander Craig Steible invites all to attend. Guest speaker will be Joey Becker from the American Legion in Alpha.

WASHINGTON TWP., N.J. -- The township will host their annual Memorial Day ceremony 2 p.m. Saturday at Rock Spring Park, off East Springtown Road, at the War Memorial site. The park will be closed to all other activities on this day. Information: 908-876-5941

WEST BANGOR -- The borough Memorial Association will hold its Memorial Day program 11 a.m. Monday at the memorial site on Second Street. The principal speaker will be Michael Scarsella, commander of the Pen Argyl American Legion Post. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church Social Hall, 1440 Verona Ave.

WEST EASTON -- The borough will hold its annual Memorial Day program 9 a.m. Monday at Seventh and Center streets, adjacent to borough hall. The event will be held rain or shine.

WILLIAMS TWP. -- Residents will hold a Memorial Day ceremony 6 p.m. Sunday at the municipal building, 655 Cider Press Road. Judge Craig Dally, Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, will deliver the address. Roy Fox, one of the township’s most senior veterans, will lay a wreath at the base of the memorial to the township’s Fallen Heroes. Nancy Ackerman, Raubsville, Veterans Memorial Committee member, will be master of ceremonies. Community Service Recognition Awards will be presented to Timothy Koplin, chief mason in the building of the township memorial and Joe MacIntosh, proprietor of Country Lawnscape, which provided landscaping plants for the site. The awards will be made by Helen Seifert, Gold Star Mother and Williams Twp. Veterans Memorial Committee member. Information: 610-253-2489 or 610-253-8951

WIND GAP -- American Legion Post 724, 217 North Broadway, will commemorate Memorial Day with Pastor C. Frank Terhune and the congregation at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1422 Church Road, Plainfield Township, 11 a.m. Sunday. At 1 p.m., a program will be held at the World War II Monument at Route 512 and Lehigh Street with music by the Blue Eagle Alumni Drum and Bugle Corp. Guest speaker is Hon. Craig A. Dally, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County. Immediately following, the gathering will proceed to the monument in front of Post 724 on North Broadway.

From the Express Times