Special Ceremonies

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…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Local War Veteran’s Family Receive Specially Equipped Van

Result of Joint Lehigh Valley Effort with Recycled Rides Program

In a joint effort between the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC), Reliable Auto Body and the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides Program™, the keys to a newly refurbished 2010 BraunAbility EntryVan (wheelchair adapted) were presented to the Mescavage family at an 11 a.m. on 23 May at Reliable Auto Body, located at 967 Sumner Ave., Whitehall, PA.  (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Last Call for Salute to the Troops

The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council is holding its fourteenth, annual Salute to the Troops dinner.  It will be held on Friday, May 12, starting at 6 PM, at the Holiday Inn on Adrienne Drive in Breinigsville, PA. This annual event honors military and veterans as part of the observance of Armed Forces week.  The evening will include a distinguished speaker, dinner and dancing.

The featured speaker is Lieutenant General Joseph Martz (U.S. Army Retired), who retired in 2014 after spending forty years in service to our nation.  The General hails from Pennsylvania, and began his service as an enlisted man in 1974. After commissioning in 1979 as an Armor officer, upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, he rose in the ranks as a notable warrior-scholar. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Ritter Elementary School Seeks Veterans to Interview Now!

Ritter Elementary SchoolWhereas this once again a last minute notification for finding veterans to interview, the Ritter Elementary School in Allentown does conduct a well-regarded program worth a veteran’s contribution of his or her time to its students.  Interviews occur 4 October.  Therefore, sign up now.  See below for more information and who to contact.

The result of your effort will ultimately lead to one of the premier, annual Veterans Day period events in the Lehigh Valley.  This award-winning program was started over thirty years ago by a Principal and his teachers — well before the current war made appreciating our veterans popular — and has become part of the institutional culture of the school.  Help make that continue.

(more…)

By LVMAC, ago

Forward Observer — Honoring POW/MIA Day Locally

LVMAC Poster Art 2005POW/MIA Day fast approaches and will likely be buried under a blitz of other days and month of this and that announcements, to include Suicide Prevention Month.  Yet for some, this day is not forgotten and it is deeply felt, for the loss is still deeply felt.

While also it is to deny history to believe that we as a nation have always supported our troops or have been actively concerned about the missing, Governor Wolf nevertheless properly expresses the sentiment of the day in his proclamation below.  It would be appropriate that we, as individuals, pause and reflect some time during that day on his words. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago