With the Memorial Day weekend, and the unofficial start of summer quickly approaching, many families are planning trips to the shore or to the mountains or even having a barbecue at home.

Perhaps now is the time to give thought as to why we Americans can do these activities in peace, why we celebrate this holiday.

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, is set aside to honor U.S. military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the federal holiday was observed on May 30 until 1970.

The following year, Congress standardized the holiday as Memorial Day.

Many communities honor this nation’s fallen heroes with parades and veterans’ groups visit cemeteries to place flags on the graves of veterans.

On May 28, the Emmaus Honor Guard will honor all departed veterans at each of the six cemeteries located in Emmaus. The public is invited to be present for these services which include a short prayer, rifle salute and taps. The service will start 8 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery, then proceed to the cemeteries in the following order: Old Moravian at Ridge Street, Moravian, Lutheran Reformed, Northwood and ending at Evangelical at Second and Ridge streets.

On May 29, the Emmaus Veterans Committee will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade will begin 9 a.m. at Emmaus High School parking lot on North Street. It will proceed onto Macungie Avenue, then onto Chestnut Street to Fourth Street and ending at the Memorial Triangle, where Fourth and Third Streets converge. There will be a memorial service which includes the reading aloud of more than 65 local service members who died while serving their country. Guest speakers will be local veterans sharing their military experiences.

The committee is urging all veterans to come and walk the parade route with the group.

In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled, but there will be a short ceremony held at the Memorial Triangle by the Honor Guard to honor all fallen heroes.

A Killed in Action (Vietnam War) Memorial Service will be held noon May 29 at 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. The ceremony is presented by the Bethlehem Detachment 284 of the Marine Corps League.

The 134th annual Memorial Day program will be held May 29 at Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church, 3441 Devonshire Road, Allentown. The event begins 11:45 a.m. outside at the Veteran’s Monument, weather permitting; otherwise it will be held in the historic 1819 sanctuary of the church.

The program begins with the entrance of the Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church Honor Guard, the American flag will be raised to full staff at noon, followed by the singing of the national anthem. The program includes the Salute to the Deceased Veterans of All Wars, a ceremonial wreath placed, reading of the Gettysburg Address, taps and a procession around the cemeteries of the church.

On May 28, Legion Post 16, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 16 and the Legion Riders will visit and conduct services at several cemeteries in the Northwestern Lehigh County area.

These cemeteries include Williamstown, 8:10 a.m.; Jacksonville, 8:40 a.m.; Memorial Park, New Tripoli, 9:15 a.m.; Heidelberg Church, 9:45 a.m.; Neffs Lutheran Church, 10:15 a.m.; Seventh Street Catholic Church, Slatington, 10:45 a.m.; Fairview Cemetery, Slatington, 11 a.m.; Friedens Church Cemetery, 11:15 a.m.; Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Slatington, 11:45 a.m. and Slatington Veterans Memorial, 12:05 p.m.

On Memorial Day, May 29, the Veterans Memorial Day Committee is sponsoring a ceremony 11 a.m. in Ontelaunee Park, Lynn Township.

Guest speakers include five area veterans discussing why they served. There will be patriotic music presented by Northwestern Lehigh students and the names of 100 local veterans which were engraved on the granite monuments in the park will be honored.

Following the program, lunch will be available from food trucks.

Everyone is invited to attend any and all of these events honoring this nation’s heroes.

Remember, without the men and women who gave their all while serving this country, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we all too often take for granted.

Deb Palmieri

editor

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press