The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will host its 43 annual Memorial Day program at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
This year’s program is cosponsored by the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Memorial Council and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Pennsylvania, according to a release from Douglas A. Etter, chief communication officer for Lebanon VA Medical Center.
National Cemetery director John Spruyt will welcome the audience. VFW-PA Commander Barbara Loncar will deliver the keynote address. Jay Snyder, Memorial Council vice president, will serve as the master of ceremonies.
The program will be held rain or shine, and attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather.
Parking will be at MSC Industrial Supply Company, 100 MSC Drive, Jonestown, just east of Fort Indiantown Gap. There will be shuttle bus transportation to and from the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial.
Motorists who are entering from the west will have to take a detour around Fort Indiantown Gap on Biddle Drive, Quartermaster Road, and back to Fisher Avenue. There is limited handicapped parking at the cemetery itself.
The Avenue of Flags display at the cemetery is up and will be flown through the week of Veterans Day. The Avenue of Flags is made up of casket flags that have been donated by veterans’ families. State, territories, and service flags are also being flown. Flag donations can be dropped off prior to the program.
Additionally, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery will hold its annual Echo Taps ceremony on Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m. This ceremony held in observance of Armed Forces Day is sponsored by the Pennsylvania chapter of Bugles Across America. The ceremony begins with a traditional three-volley rifle salute by the Vet 21 Salute Honor Guard of Lancaster, followed by Echo Taps.
The corps of buglers from around the region will also perform a musical tribute at the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial following the Echo Taps.
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