LVMAC Tidbit: PA Music Society to Conduct a Virtual Memorial Day Celebration

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic causing cancellation of its original live event plans, the Pennsylvania Music Society (PAMPS) is partnering with WFMZ-TV 69, the Lehigh and Northampton County Executives, and the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) to sponsor a special community-wide live streaming event on Memorial Day 2020 centered around the nationwide Moment of Remembrance.

LVMAC News: Salute to Troops Dinner Invitation and Memorial Day Parade Registration

The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) and the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem are again sponsoring events in May to honor our local military, veterans and their families.  The Board of Directors cordially invites the members of our community and those still serving to participate in and provide support for these events:

LVMAC Tidibit: A Different Kind of Memorial Day Event

The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society is conducting its first-ever “The Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration” at the Allentown Fairgrounds between 26 and 28 May.  Admission is free.  The part of interest to us revolves around the military and veteran recognition events and displays — and especially the ones involving the remembrance of those who gave their lives for us and, as part of that remembrance, for all our citizens to rededicate themselves to caring “… for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations” to ensure those lives have not been wasted.  Originating out of the devastation of the Civil War experience, this is the purpose of Memorial Day — not the pomp and circumstance, the glitz and glam that often comes with it.

Towards that end, we have extracted from their program of events and listed below those parts dealing exclusively with our Council’s area of interest and, in particular, some of Monday’s events (click on the images to enlarge them).

LVMAC Tidbit — Memorial Day 2016 Events Around the Valley

Our Lehigh County Veterans Affairs Office compiled this listing of Memorial Day events within the Lehigh Valley and Upper Bucks area, based on organizational submissions.  It is current as of 12 May:

[Editor’s Note:  Also see our Special Events page for additional information or other events not listed here.]

LVMAC Tidbit — Don’t Know What to Do With Your Loved One’s Funeral Flag?

Use it for a Higher Purpose at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery

The Lehigh County Veterans Affairs Office is seeking donations of interment (casket) flags to be flown on the Avenue of Flags at the entrance to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Indiantown Gap National Cemetery located in the vicinity of Annville.  The donations of these flags has dwindled over the years and the continuous need has not been well known.

LVMAC Tidbit — For Memorial Day Pole Watchers

This is for those who keep their heads up.  We are writing about U.S. flag etiquette on Memorial Day and also, the Commonwealth’s — having taken note of the Whitehall Township’s unintentional breach of flag decorum.   We should be proud of how many Americans display their flag — something probably unique to our nation.  Nevertheless, as proud as we are to be Americans, frequently forget proper flag etiquette.

On Monday, 25 May, it goes as follows:

LVMAC Tidbit — On 27 May Give Time for a Moment of Remembrance

Memorial Day should be more than a picnic holiday and a sales day.  It is intended to be a day when we remember those who fought and died for us and our way of life, and to rededicate ourselves to good purposes to ensure their sacrifice was not wasted.  In an effort to remind our citizenry, adults and youth, of what it sometimes required of us to be Americans, a National Moment of Remembrance was added to the day in 2000.

LVMAC Tidbit — A Special Memorial Day Service

Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church is continuing its tradition of holding a special Memorial Day service on 26 May at 9 a.m. for veterans at its church located just off the intersection of Cedar Crest Boulevard and I-78 in Allentown.  This year’s guest speaker will be Retired Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer who is currently the U.S.  Global Malaria Coordinator.