Memorial Day events scheduled across region
Memorial Day is just around the corner and several area events have been planned to commemorate the holiday.
The following is a list of local events planned over the Memorial Day holiday weekend:
Montgomery County
• The annual Pottstown Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on may 27 with participants gathering at Goodwill Fire Station at 9 a.m. The parade will proceed down East High Street and conclude at Memorial Park. A Memorial Day ceremony will follow the parade in the park and include the placing of the newly restored World War II cannon.
• The Collegeville and Trappe area parade will start at 10 a.m. on May 28. The route will take the parade from Augustus Lutheran Church to Waterworks Park. Following the Remembrance Observance, there will be a Community Day with live music, food, a bouncy house, and free games for kids.
• On Saturday, May 25, at 10 a.m., VFW Post 1074 will honor those Veterans who have departed. They will be planting new flags throughout Calvary Cemetery, located at 235 Matsonford Road in Conshohocken. Flags and water will be provided. Volunteers can enjoy a cookout at Post 1074 after the event.
• On Monday, May 27, starting at 9 a.m., The Lansdale Memorial Day Parade will go down Main Street, ending at Memorial Park. A ceremony will begin at 10
a.m. The parade is hosted by The Veterans of Foreign Ways Post No. 32, The Virgillio Schembri Battavio Post No. 23 and the American Legion William Hare Post No. 206.
• The Hatfield Memorial Day Parade will take place Monday, May 27, at 9 a.m. The parade will travel from Broad & Market Streets to the Legion Home on Koffel Road. A service will follow at Legion Home.
• A Carillon concert by Doug Gefvert will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 27, at Washington Memorial Chapel, Route 23 in Valley Forge National Historical Park. The concert is free and will feature patriotic selections and works by American composers. It will be held outdoors rain or shine. The concert is sponsored by the Washington Memorial Heritage.
Berks County
• The Birdsboro Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. on May 27 with parade lineup at 8:30 a.m. at Beacon Container, 700 W 1 st St, Birdsboro. The route will proceed with a wreath tribute at Birdsboro-Union Fire Company, VFW Post 411 and American Legion Post 626. It will then continue to end at Dollar General, Routes 724/345. The parade will be followed by a ceremony at Birdsboro Cemetery. On Wednesday, May 29, at 6 p.m., Opening Ceremonies will take place for Legion Baseball Home Opener versus Twin Valley. The Legion Baseball Field has been newly named and has had ongoing upgrades to field. On Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. the U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony with Veteran’s, Boy & Girl Scouts, Daniel Boone Chorus will be held. It will take place outside behind Birdsboro American Legion Post 626, 445 E Main Street, Birdsboro.
• The Oley American Legion Post will be holding a Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 26, at 6:00 p.m. starting at the Oley High School and continuing up Main Street to the Freidens Church. There will be a brief ceremony and 21 gun salute in the church cemetery to honor veterans. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Oley High School Auditorium.
• American Legion Post 934 of Exeter Township will hold its 39th annual Memorial Day Parade & Service. It will be held on Monday, May 27. The American Legion Post holds a memorial service following the parade, to honor those who have died serving our country. The service is held rain or shine. In the event of rain, cancellation of the parade will be announced on radio station WEEU 8:30 a.m. just prior to the start of the parade. The parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Exeter Township High School and conclude with a service at Forest Hills Memorial Park.
• The Boyertown’s annual Memorial Day parade will begin at the Boyertown High School Monroe Street entrance at 9:15 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 27. The parade will travel west on Philadelphia Avenue to the Fairview Cemetery. The Memorial Day Service to honor those who have served our country will start at about 10:00 a.m. The events are held by the Boyertown American Legion.
• The Colebrookdale Railroad will be holding a Decoration Day Expedition ride on May 27. The Colebrookdale Railroad wants to extend gratitude to all those who are, or who have, served in the armed forces by offering a ride on our Deluxe Coach free of charge with proper ID. Lunch will be served to passengers in the dining car. The train departs from the Colebrookdale station at 2:30 p.m.
Chester County
• The Upper Main Line Memorial Association will sponsor the 151st Annual Memorial Parade in Malvern on Sunday, June 2, at 1:30 p.m. Recognized as the oldest Memorial Commemoration in America, the Parade in 2019 will continue the tradition of honoring the men and women who have served our country and especially those who gave their lives in defense of our freedom. The Parade route will again follow King Street from the Malvern Fire Station west to Warren Avenue, south to Monument Avenue then west to the Memorial Park. After the Parade on Sunday, the 203rd Memorial Ceremony will honor those who serve or have served. Those in attendance are encouraged to place a ribbon on the Malvern Tree of Honor. All of the events take place in Memorial Park, on Monument Ave. in Malvern. In the unlikely event of rain, there is no rain date for the parade or any of the activities.
• The West Goshen Historical Commission will hold a Memorial Day cemetery tour. The tour will explore Oaklands Cemetery on the original Memorial Day, May 30. Guests will learn about the history of Memorial Day and Oaklands Cemetery from historian and local tour guide Thomas Walsh. Due to the nature of the site, attendance is limited to 30 people. A rain date is scheduled for Saturday, June 1, at 1:00 p.m.