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BETHLEHEM, PA—A virtual memorial ceremony, veterans writing workshop and the 10th season of the ‘Our Hometown Heroes’ display honoring men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces highlight the 10th year of ArtsQuest’s Memorial Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank May 24-25. The ceremony and all related Memorial Day programming will be available via www.steelstacks.org/memorial-
Starting this week, more than 130 banners featuring photos of 1,300 Lehigh Valley residents who served in the military are displayed on First and Second Streets and Founders Way on the SteelStacks campus as part of ‘Our Hometown Heroes.’ The community is encouraged to drive through the campus or walk by the banners following proper social distancing guidelines and any other health and safety regulations enacted by the city and the state. With many people sheltering at home, many of the banners are also being displayed online for the first time ever.
“Memorial Day typically signals the start of the summer season, with people getting together for picnics, festivals and of course ceremonies to honor our servicemen and women,” says Embassy Bank President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman Dave Lobach. “This year, things are certainly different, with the health and safety of our community first and foremost in everyone’s minds.
“Although people can’t get together at SteelStacks, we at Embassy Bank are proud to join with ArtsQuest to present this new way for our community to ‘gather’ and continue the tradition of honoring our members of the military, especially those who have lost their lives protecting and serving our nation.”
The “Time to Remember” Memorial Ceremony will take place May 25, 3 p.m., via SteelStacks Facebook Page this year. The event will include the singing of the National Anthem and God Bless America by Stacy Gabel, as well as a reading by the Lehigh Valley Gold Star Mothers of the names of Lehigh Valley residents who have lost their lives in service to our nation. Speakers include ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert and Lobach. ArtsQuest will also screen a Memorial Day-themed PBS film on the ArtsQuest Memorial Day webpage during the day.
On May 24 from 1-3 p.m., Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving and ArtsQuest present the opportunity for veterans and family members to engage virtually in a free writing and storytelling workshop designed to explore grief, loss, anger and other emotions.
The special event is offered to those who have lost themselves or lost someone they loved and need a place to express what Memorial Day was truly intended for. The workshop is free and open to all veterans; for more information contact Jenny Pacanowski at troupe@wvet.org or register at www.womenveteransempowered.
In addition to Embassy Bank, other partners helping to make Memorial Day weekend programming possible include 69-WFMZ-TV, LehighValleyLive.com/The Express-Times, Lehigh Valley Public Media and Adams Outdoor Advertising. For more information, visit www.steelstacks.org/memorial-
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
