Memorial Day honors those who lost their lives while defending their country.
Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. In observance of Memorial Day, fly the United States flag at half staff from sunrise until NOON , and then raise it to full height from noon to sundown.
United States Flag Code Section 7.M
The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then slowly lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. http://halfstaff.org/
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2024 Memorial Day Events
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SATURDAY MAY 25th:
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WILLIAMSPORT - 11am
At the Lycoming County Memorial Park On Wahoo Drive
The keynote speaker will be Major General Mark J. Schindler, the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania.
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SUNDAY MAY 26th:
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BENTON - 1pm
MAZEPPA - A Memorial Day Parade and Service held at Mazeppa Union Church. Parade steps off at 6 p.m. at the lower end of Mazeppa and proceeds to the cemetery. The speaker will be Dick DeVett. Following the service there will be an ice cream social in the community center. If it rains the service will be held in the church.
MILLVILLE — parade at 12:30 p.m. will form at the fire hall at noon and start a half hour later. The ceremony follows at Millville Cemetery at 1 p.m.
MOORESBURG - A Memorial Day weekend service to honor the life and sacrifice of Ceylon Miller and all veterans who died in service to this country held at 9:30 a.m. at Mooresburg Presbyterian Church, 21 Church Road. Miller, at 27 years old, was killed April 17, 1944, while serving his country in Italy. This year is the 80th anniversary of his sacrifice. He is the only member of the Mooresburg Presbyterian Church that has died while serving his country. Info: 570-275-2754.
NORDMONT - Cherry Grove Cemetery — 101st Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. with speakers Greg Forsburg, and masters of ceremony Kathrine Prichard and Brian Hoffman, Cherry Grove Cemetery Association president. Ham dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Paul Church. In case of inclement weather, service will be held inside Cherry Grove Chapel.
PICTURE ROCKS— Parade forms at 1:30 p.m. at Baptist Church on Center Street and proceeds to the cemetery for service. Lion member William Foresman is guest speaker.
SONESTOWN — parade at 11 a.m., forms at Nittany Mart proceeds to Hillcrest Cemetery with guest speaker Darlene Fenton. Lunch at noon at Sonestown Legion for band and Legion members.
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MONDAY MAY 27th:
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DANVILLE - The Montour County Veterans Memorial Day celebration begins at 10 a.m. in Zamboni Park commemorating the veterans who cannot come home with a ceremony at the Riverside Bridge. From there a parade continues to Memorial Park where our fallen will be honored. In case of rain, the final ceremonies will be held at the Danville Middle School Auditorium.
HUGHESVILLE — Parade forms at 8:30 a.m. at Hughesville Fire Hall, moves at 9 a.m. and ends at Hughesville High School. Ceremony, 10 a.m., Pleasant Hill Cemetery, with guest speaker Roger Bohner Jr., U.S. Army Ret. In case of rain, service will be held in high school auditorium.
MILTON - An American Legion Memorial Day "In Memory of Our Heroes" ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Milton Cemetery. Light refreshments available at Post 71 after the ceremony.
MONTGOMERY— Parade, 9 a.m. Forms at Bower Decker Post 25 American Legion and proceeds south on Broad Street to community park. Service in the park to follow.
MONTOURSVILLE — Memorial Day Service at Montoursville Cemetery, 10 a.m. with guest speaker Lt. Col. Dennis Norman, USMC. Afterwards, light refreshments will be served at the Eugene Grafius American Legion Post 104.
MUNCY - Parade, 11 a.m. Forms at East Mechanic and North Main streets and ends at cemetery. After parade ceremony is at the Muncy Cemetery and Lions Club of Muncy has chicken Barbecue at Lions Park.https://www.facebook.com/events/1588249798382508/
NEW BERLIN - Memorial Day services begin at 2 p.m. at the New Berlin Cemetery.
SUNBURY & NORTHUMBERLAND
Each year, Sunbury and Northumberland alternate who goes "early" and who goes "late." . In 2024 Sunbury is going early - the Sunbury parade forms at 8:00am and steps off at 8:30am, with their service to follow the conclusion of their parade. The Northumberland parade is scheduled to step off at 11:00am to give anyone in the Sunbury parade time to pack up their gear and get to Norry. The service in Riverview Cemetery will follow the conclusion of the parade, probably around 11:30am.
TURBOTVILLE — Service at 11 a.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
WATSONTOWN - 9am in the cemetery, followed by a parade down to the bridge, where a wreath is tossed into the river. [The Watsontown bridge is open for Memorial Day week-end, but will close next week, again, to finish the repairs]
WILLIAMSPORT — Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Day Ceremony at Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Circle, Wildwood Cemetery, 9 a.m. The annual event is a tribute to local veterans who served during the Civil War.
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PHOTOS FROM PAST YEARS
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Each year I try to visit a Memorial Day Ceremony in a different town. Here are photos from some of the ceremonies I've visited so far:
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Early memorial days were the the days when family all came home. The entire week-end would be full of picnics, church services, and trips to decorate the graves. When automobiles were new to the area, those who had them would lend them out so that elderly veterans could be driven from cemetery to cemetery, to visit the graves of those they had served along side.
Read more about some of the early Memorial Day celebrations in our local towns, here:
Lest We Forget
An Index Of Stories & Photos Of Those Who Didn't Make It Home
And A Closer Look At Some Of The Memorials Erected For them.
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/memorial-day-in-valley-through-decades.html
An Index Of Stories & Photos Of Those Who Didn't Make It Home
And A Closer Look At Some Of The Memorials Erected For them.
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/memorial-day-in-valley-through-decades.html
