The Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration at the Agri-Plex, Allentown Fairgrounds, Memorial Day weekend, has been canceled because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Pennsylvania’s Music Preservation Society, which produces the event, is partnering with WFMZ-TV, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, Jr. and Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, for an audio-streaming event as part of a nationwide “Moment of Remembrance,” 3 p.m. May 28, Memorial Day.

“We still wanted to offer a way to keep Memorial Day from becoming just another day of physical distancing,” said Pennsylvania’s Music Preservation Society Executive Director Carole Gorney.

“Our usual programs have been placed on hold due to the coronavirus,” said Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council President Major General Gerald Still.

In the 40-minute Memorial Day event, residents are to go onto porches or lawns, or participate from apartment windows, at their residents.

“It will encourage people while maintaining safe distances to wave at their neighbors to wish them well, to observe the national minute of silence together at 3 p.m., listen to ‘Taps’ and sing ‘God Bless America’ with music streaming live on their iPhones, iPads and smart phones.”

Residents may hold up signs or wave flags.

The streaming messages will include gratitude to nurses, doctors and first-responders.

“It will also be an opportunity to remember our deceased military who gave their lives in service to the country, and to those coronavirus victims who have died,” said Gorney.

“Memorial Day is a day to remember all those individuals who sacrificed everything. I encourage all Americans to take a few moments on Memorial Day to hear and participate in our audio-streaming program to honor the sacrifices made for all of us,” said Still.

“This is the perfect way for us to stay connected as a community, without risking our health and safety,” said Gorney.