LVMAC News: Everyone Loves a Parade (or Should)

After suffering the effect of two years of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) will resume its Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade, as asked by the City of Bethlehem many years ago.  This event results from the combined efforts of the United Veterans of Bethlehem and this council.  The parade starts at 9 a.m. at the Liberty High School parking lot and proceeds up Linden St. to Bethlehem Memorial Park.  Those who wish to be in the parade should register now.  After all, Memorial Day was meant to be more than the unofficial beginning of summer, a day at the beach, or a shopping sales day. (more…)

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. (more…)

LVMAC Tidibit: A Different Kind of Memorial Day Event

The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society is conducting its first-ever “The Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration” at the Allentown Fairgrounds between 26 and 28 May.  Admission is free.  The part of interest to us revolves around the military and veteran recognition events and displays — and especially the ones involving the remembrance of those who gave their lives for us and, as part of that remembrance, for all our citizens to rededicate themselves to caring “… for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations” to ensure those lives have not been wasted.  Originating out of the devastation of the Civil War experience, this is the purpose of Memorial Day — not the pomp and circumstance, the glitz and glam that often comes with it.

Towards that end, we have extracted from their program of events and listed below those parts dealing exclusively with our Council’s area of interest and, in particular, some of Monday’s events (click on the images to enlarge them). (more…)

LVMAC Tidbit — Don’t Know What to Do With Your Loved One’s Funeral Flag?

Use it for a Higher Purpose at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery

Lehigh County LogoThe Lehigh County Veterans Affairs Office is seeking donations of interment (casket) flags to be flown on the Avenue of Flags at the entrance to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Indiantown Gap National Cemetery located in the vicinity of Annville.  The donations of these flags has dwindled over the years and the continuous need has not been well known. (more…)

LVMAC Tidbit — For Memorial Day Pole Watchers

flagdayanimation5This is for those who keep their heads up.  We are writing about U.S. flag etiquette on Memorial Day and also, the Commonwealth’s — having taken note of the Whitehall Township’s unintentional breach of flag decorum.   We should be proud of how many Americans display their flag — something probably unique to our nation.  Nevertheless, as proud as we are to be Americans, frequently forget proper flag etiquette.

On Monday, 25 May, it goes as follows: (more…)