6 Sites In PA Where You Can Honor Veterans This Memorial Day

Memorial Day Weekend is many things to the average American: a kickoff to the summer's festivities, the first trip to the beach of the season, a long weekend with an extra day off work. The meaning of the holiday - remembering the men and women of the armed forces who died while serving - is often lost. We've put together a listing of several historic sites and events around the area to visit this weekend to honor fallen servicemen and women.

Memorial Day was once known as Decoration Day, and Americans began to observe it as a holiday three years after the end of the Civil War. It began as a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Memorial Day wasn't declared a national holiday until 1971 and has since been observed annually on the last Monday in May.

Valley Forge

Valley Forge National Historical Park was the setting for one of the most enduring tales of military hardship and privation in American history. During the winter of 1777-78, George Washington's Continental Army endured a brutally cold winter with limited supplies. Historians estimate that around 2,000 soldiers died.

Today, the sprawling park is home to trails, numerous monuments to the fallen, living history tours, and a visitor's center with detailed accounts of sacrifices made by soldiers. On Sunday, May 27, at 2 p.m., the 314th Memorial Day Service will be held at Reception Patriots Hall in Valley Forge's Washington Memorial Chapel.

Historic Montgomery Cemetery

In Norristown, the annual event at the Historic Montgomery Cemetery will honor veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the country.

The cemetery is the final resting place for hundreds of veterans who gave their lives in wars in both the 19th and 20th centuries. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, on One Hartranft Avenue.

Old City

Old City contains numerous monuments, museums, and historic buildings than honor veterans and the fallen.

The newly opened Museum of the American Revolution (101 S. 3rd Street) features gorgeous architecture and an intricately detailed account of the sacrifices made by soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The Museum is hosting special Memorial Day programming that focuses on sailors, including a replica ship and actors posing as crew members and dock workers.

The National Constitution Center (525 Arch Street) also hosts a special Memorial Day weekend event, with special exhibits focused on the history of the national anthem, folding the American flag, local monuments, thank a vet postcard workshops, and more. The Center is located a short walk down Independence Mall from a bevy of national treasures, including the home of the First Continental Congress and the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Independence National Historical Park, meanwhile, will host numerous free like the history of Memorial Day, living history talks on George Washington, heroism, and sacrifice, and a special program about local military heroes. For more information, see here.

Washington Crossing Historic Park

The annual observance at Washington's Crossing Historic Park (1113 River Road, Washington Crossing) will begin at the gravesites of soldiers from the Continental Army. A colonial color guard, reenactors, Daughters of the American Revolution veterans, and more will be on hand. As part of the event, graves of soldiers will be decorated with American flags. The event begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 27.

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Historic Laurel Hill (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia) was the site of the first Memorial Day observance in Philadelphia back in 1868. 150 years later, a gathering will be held at the grave of General George Gordon Meade, one of the key figures and heroes of the Battle of Gettysburg (more on that below). There will be a wreath laying event, speeches, and full honor guard. The event will take place on Sunday, May 27 at noon.

Gettysburg

While it’s a bit of a hike outside of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, it’s hard to find a more fitting Memorial Day weekend destination than Gettysburg National Military Park.

Gettysburg is the host of the pivotal 1863 Civil War battle, which saw the deaths of around 50,000 American soldiers. Today the park is host of numerous monuments, battlefield tours, education programs, living history events, and more.

Meanwhile, the town of Gettysburg hosts one of the oldest and largest Memorial Day parades in the United States. Thousands of people attend the event in the historic downtown district each year. Brigadier General John S. Laskodi is this year’s guest speaker. For more information, see here.

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