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Behold 6,530 American Flags Displayed in Honor of Veterans
The public is invited to visit the display and related events
A memorial to each soldier who has died in combat since 9/11, the "Massing of the Colors" will be on display from Friday, Nov. 4 - Monday, Nov. 14, in the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown's Veterans Grove. The public is invited to walk through and view the flag display at their leisure (it will be lit in the evening). Special events include:
- Friday, Nov. 4 at 1:30 p.m.: Opening service to dedicate the flag display at the Veterans Grove.
- Friday, Nov. 11 from 10 - 11 a.m.: Veterans Day Program in the Freemasons Cultural Center's Brossman Ballroom, featuring the Navy Club Band of Lancaster County - Ship #166; Elizabethtown Mayor Chuck Mummert; speaker Col. Donna N. Hershey, U.S. Army Reserves, Commander of the 307th Medical Brigade in Blacklick, Ohio; and other special features.
- Monday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.: Closing ceremonies for the flag display at the Veterans Grove.
The "Massing of the Colors" is a memorial created by the National Sojourners - Harrisburg Chapter No. 76 in 2004. Volunteers from Masonic Village, the Sojourners, the Navy Club of Lancaster County - Ship #166 and the community helped to set up the thousands of American flags.
The National Sojourners are a Masonic organization of military members which aims to foster appreciation of the American heritage of freedom of life, liberty, religion and free expression. Funds for the flags have come from donations and a private grant. The Sojourners first displayed the flags on Memorial Day 2004 at the Zembo Shrine Center in Harrisburg to commemorate the deaths of those who have served our country in the War on Terrorism.
Along with the 6,530 flags from the "Massing of the Colors" display, 131 large and 51 small American flags from the "PawPrints for Pennsylvania Patriots Program" will be on display. Through this program, The Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, Order of the Eastern Star, recently presented a check to Susquehanna Service Dogs for $125,702.59 to provide service dogs for veterans returning home with combat injuries. Supporters purchased flags in memory or honor of a loved one, and the flags have been displayed at the Masonic Villages across the state throughout the last year.
Supporting troops and veterans at the Masonic Village has been a long-standing tradition which dates back to Memorial Day ceremonies held in the cemetery in 1915. Masonic Village's Veterans Grove provides a place for residents, employees and community members to walk and picnic while they commemorate the men and women throughout the generations who have served, are serving or will serve our great nation through the Armed Forces. For information about the Veterans Grove, please click here.
As our nation pauses to remember our veterans this month, visit Masonic Village to reflect and honor the sacrifice of our fallen heroes. For directions to the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, please click here.
For more information, pplease contact:
Debra L. Davis
public relations coordinator
(717) 367-1121, ext. 33529
ddavis@masonicvillagespa.org
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