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.
Beginning at 2:30 PM, a 40-minute streaming event on the pamusicsociety.org will encourage residents to go out onto their porches or lawns while maintaining safe distances, or participate from their apartment windows, in order to wave at their neighbors to wish them well, observe the national minute of silence together at 3:00 PM, and listen to “Taps” and sing along with music streaming on their mobile devices. Residents may also want to hold up signs or wave flags during the event.
In addition to thepatriotic music Lehigh Valley based performers provide, Major General Gerald Still, USAF Retired, the President of LVMAC, will pay tribute to our deceased military servicemembers who gave their lives in service to the country, the original and oft-forgotten purpose of Memorial Day. In addition, due to the current circumstances, the program will feature Lehigh and Northampton county executives, Phillips Armstrong and Lamont McClure Jr., addressing the importance of community connections, and expressing gratitude to nurses and doctors as well as first responders, some of whom are military personnel currently pressed into service. The names of local healthcare workers and first responders who have died will be read.
As General Still has noted, “Our usual programs have been placed on hold due to the coronavirus. The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society and others are presenting a Memorial Day program where we can all honor those who have served our country in so many different ways. 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 streaming program to honor the sacrifices made for all of us.”
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As of 20 May 2020