Many communities in this area will observe the serious side of Memorial Day, calling everyone to reflect on and honor the memory of our veterans.
BEECH CREEK/
BLANCHARD
Local observances begin Friday at 6 p.m. at the statue of Foster Joseph Sayers near the Sayers Dam spillway at Bald Eagle State Park, Blanchard. Sayers, a native of Howard, received the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during World War II. The public is invited to the ceremony, to be conducted by the Howard Area Lions Club and the Centre County Veterans Affairs office. Bring a lawn chair, if possible.
Parades on Memorial Day, May 25 include the annual march through Beech Creek and Blanchard, stepping off at 10 a.m. from the American Legion on Wynn Avenue. Units are to line up at 9 a.m. The parade will stop for solemn ceremonies along the way, including at the bridge and the two cemeteries in Blanchard.
The youth of Blanchard Church of Christ plan a bake sale along Beach Street to coincide with the parade.
LOCK HAVEN
The Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct memorial services Sunday at local cemeteries, on this schedule: 8 a.m. at Highland Cemetery, 8:15 at St. Mary’s Cemetery; 8:30 at Sunnyside Cemetery, 8:45 at Cedar Hill Cemetery; 9 a.m. at Flemington Cemetery; 10:30 at Farrandsville Cemetery; 10:45 at Rest Haven Memorial Park; 11 a.m. at Dunnstown Cemetery; 11:15 at Veterans Park, and 11:30 at the veterans memorial at the intersection of Bellefonte Avenue and Church Street.
More than 50 American flags will fly in Triangle Park over the holiday weekend, sponsored by the public in honor and in memory of special people in their lives. The Flags of Honor project is organized by the Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven. The club is sponsoring 10 of the flags for Hometown Heroes, the people who will be honored on streetlight banners in the downtown beginning this August.
SUGAR VALLEY
The annual parade in Loganton will be held at 2 p.m. Memorial Day, May 25 and organizers say it will be a big one, in honor of Sugar Valley’s 175th anniversary year. They expect lots of bands, floats, horses, marching units, and military vehicle and units.
A program will follow, featuring speaker William Bechdel, Clinton County Veterans Affairs director.
A tractor show is being planned at the east end of town.
The Sugar Valley Volunteer Fire Co. plans a chicken barbecue dinner at the fire hall from 4 to 7 p.m., with food to eat in or take out. Also in Loganton, a variety of food stands will be set up. Albright United Methodist Church will have sandwiches, snacks, drinks and also crafts. A stand sponsored by St. John’s Church of Christ will have sandwiches, drinks and desserts. The Sugar Valley Lions Club will run a cotton candy stand.
JERSEY SHORE
The annual ceremonies on Memorial Day in the borough will start at 6 a.m. with the “Ceremonial Burial at Sea” on the Route 44 bridge next to Jersey Shore State Bank. A wreath will be tossed into the river during the ceremony, to be held by Jersey Shore Honor Guard along with the Veterans Council.
Two flag-raisings will follow: one at 7 a.m. at American Legion Post 36 at 320 Seminary St., and the other at 8 a.m. at Billy O. Brandt VFW Post #5859 at 201 Lincoln Ave.
The annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Jersey Shore Cemetery off Locust Street at 9:30 a.m.
NIPPENOSE VALLEY
The Nippenose Valley Memorial Day service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Oval Cemetery. Should the weather be inclement, the service will be held inside Oval United Methodist Church on Route 44.
SALLADASBURG
A Memorial Day parade will be held at 11 a.m., with line-up on Dochter Street before 10:45.
A ceremony in the Salladasburg United Methodist Church parking lot will follow, with invocation by Pastor Kevin Brophy, the national anthem by Susan Barrows, Dr. Daniel Glunk reading Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Mayor Douglas Ellsworth reading the roll call of the veterans. Taps and a 21-gun salute by a local honor guard will conclude the ceremony.
RENOVO
Memorial Day services will be held on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. at Lower Hyner Cemetery and continuing at 9:15 at Catholic Cemetery in Hyner, 9:30 at Chapman Township Fire Hallin North Bend, 9:45 at North Bend Cemetery, 10 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, 10:30 at the tank in Renovo’s 16th Street Community Park, 10:45 at the South Renovo memorial; 11 a.m. in the center of the bridge leading into Renovo, and 11:15 at Drury’s Run.
SPRING MILLS
A memorial service is planned at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31 in Mountain Cemetery on Decker Valley Road with an honor guard, cannon, speakers and singers. Bring a lawn chair.