Many Americans will celebrate Memorial Day with a picnic or barbecue.

However, Memorial Day, is not just a day to take time off from work, it is a day for Americans to honor fallen service men and women.

Those who serve make the ultimate commitment to serve their country during disaster and war. Because of these individuals serving in the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and state National Guard units, we have our freedom.

This Memorial Day weekend, several locations in the Lehigh Valley will have events to honor those who gave their all in service to our country.

·ArtsQuest at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, in partnership with Embassy Bank, will host a weekend-long community celebration May 26-28 to honor the men and women who have given their lives for this country.

·Emmaus Borough will hold a Memorial Day Parade and service 9 a.m. May 28. The parade begins at Emmaus High School and ends at the Memorial Triangle.

·The Emmaus Veterans Committee will honor veterans at each of the six cemeteries beginning 8 a.m. May 27 at Calvary Cemetery, then moving to Old Moravian, Moravian at Ridge Street, Lutheran Reformed, Northwood and Evangelical.

·The Macungie VFW will hold a flag raising ceremony at Macungie Memorial Park 8 a.m. May 28, followed by a parade which begins on Main Street.

·St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1028 Church St., and St. John’s United Church of Christ, 1027 Church St., Fogelsville, will host a joint community Memorial Day service, with Robert M. Fegely VFW Post 8282, 10 a.m. May 28 at the Fogelsville Union Cemetery.

·St. Paul’s UCC, 1249 Trexlertown Road, Trexlertown and the Robert M. Fegely VFW Post 8282, Breinigsville will have a Memorial Day service 11 a.m. May 28 at the church cemetery.

·Robert M. Fegely VFW Post 8282, 1522 Butz Road, Breinigsville, will have its annual Memorial Day service noon May 28.

·Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5500 Route 873, Schnecksville, will hold its Memorial Day service with retired Navy Chaplain, the Rev. Jim O’Connor 9:30 a.m. May 28 at Union Cemetery.

While we may not be able to thank those who gave their lives while serving in the Armed Forces, we can thank the men and women who are serving our country today.

Whenever you see members of the Armed Forces, thank them for the sacrifices they are personally making so we can continue to enjoy the freedoms for which they are fighting.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press