This Independence Day, LebTown will provide live updates from the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center and Fairgrounds as Lebanon County celebrates America’s 250th birthday.

Lebanon County’s semiquincentennial celebration has been in the works since 2024.

Sunday, July 5

11:30 a.m. – Fireworks scratched again

The fireworks have been cancelled for tonight due to forecasted inclement weather. Officials plan to explore a possible new date in the future, but details are unavailable at this time.

Saturday, July 4

8 p.m. – In service to his nation, state & mankind

It was fitting that decorated serviceman and former state Representative Frank Ryan was the keynote speaker at the Main Ceremony during Celebrate 250 in the Valley. 

It was noted that Ryan began his service in the United States Marine Corps reserve in 1969, retiring in 2002 at the rank of colonel. Among his service assignments was US Central Command during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002. 

But that wasn’t the end of his service to the nation.

Col. Ryan was recalled to active duty in 2004, serving with the multinational force Iraq until 2005. In total, Colonel Ryan received three legions of merit. The Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the United States Army Commendation Medal. 

In 2016, Ryan was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and served three terms before retiring in 2022. Throughout all that service to the nation, he has worked tirelessly as an advocate for children with special needs, even walking across America to raise funds and awareness for that cause. 

Several of the speakers who preceded his address joked about his age, and Ryan, in keeping with his good nature, also poked fun at himself during his remarks.

“I was actually there at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and I have to tell you that Ben Franklin was obnoxious,” Ryan quipped, to much laughter from the capacity crowd. “It was very difficult to deal with. Thomas Jefferson was just about ready with the Declaration. When Ben Franklin looked at me and said, ‘Don’t you think we ought to change the third paragraph?’ We had a runabout attack to write it all over again.”

Laughter aside, Ryan gave a powerful presentation, extolling the virtues of the nation and, of course, those men and women who have made Lebanon County what it is today.

“In Lebanon County, we were the bedrock of freedom. We were the home of farmers, iron workers, tradesmen, frontier fables,” Ryan said, later adding that Lebanon Countians are good people. “Lebanon County welcomes people (from) everywhere.”

8:50 p.m. – Fireworks postponed

LebTown has been informed by several event officials that the fireworks have been postponed until tomorrow evening.

The Main Ceremony continues in Senator Brightbill Arena at this time with main speaker former Rep. Frank Ryan delivering remarks to the capacity crowd.

Readers are encouraged to follow the city’s and the 250 anniversary committee’s websites for updates tomorrow concerning the fireworks, which are scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

8:35 p.m. – Scenes from a celebration

Here is a photo gallery from today’s Celebrate 250 in the Valley event at the Lebanon Exposition Center & Fairgrounds. All photos by James Mentzer.

8:20 p.m. – Fireworks?

No official decision has been made concerning the annual fireworks display. If they are postponed this evening, they will be held Sunday evening, which is the rain date. 

Anniversary committee volunteer Doug Etter said there’s a window to get the fireworks in, but officials weren’t sure yet if it was open wide enough to finish the show before the next storm rolls into the Lebanon Valley.

Thunder still can be heard in the distance, but the first storm did bring some much-needed rain and drop the high temperatures significantly.

Meanwhile, the Main Ceremony is proceeding in Brightbill Arena.

Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello just finished her remarks on behalf of the municipality, and she noted that officials aren’t “sure if we’ll be holding the fireworks tonight, and we’ll make a decision by the end of this program.”

6:42 p.m. – Severe weather approaches

A severe weather alert was issued to guests at the fairgrounds and all were asked to move indoors until the weather passed. By 7 p.m., dark storm clouds were approaching from the west.

It was announced that the Main Ceremony, which was scheduled for 8 p.m., was being moved indoors to the Brightbill Arena due to the pending storm.

One of the workers who was helping to park cars told LebTown that she saw the temperature had hit a high of 102 degrees.

At 7:15 p.m., high winds suddenly arrived at the venue with another public warning issued by committee member Doug Etter for all guests to immediately come indoors.

6 p.m. – And the winner is…

Mere minutes after telling LebTown she hoped the soon-to-be auctioned 250th anniversary quilt was purchased by someone who’d “appreciate all the love and work that went into it,” Jan Morrissey ensured that happened.

Morrissey was the high bidder at $4,200 for the 250th anniversary quilt during the live auction held in Wenger Pavilion at the Celebrate 250 in the Valley at the Expo Center. The Celebrate event is Lebanon County’s salute to the nation’s 250th birthday, and an all-day commemoration was held to mark the occasion.

Asked afterwards if she had in her mind that she would purchase it, she answered, “Possibly.”

“I didn’t know how the night would go, but I’m pleased with how it went,” added Morrissey, who said she worked between 20 and 30 hours on the quilt over the past year. 

LebTown also asked if she was driven to purchase it because she had developed an affinity for it. 

“Just a pleasure for the labor of love that went into it,” she answered.

John Tice auctioned off the quilt, with the bidding starting at $250 and quickly rising as a handful of bidders placed theirs. The proceeds from the quilt will help defray costs from the once-in-lifetime semiquincentennial celebration.

Morrissey, a Lebanon Quilters Guild member, also served as master of ceremonies for the sale. She noted she approached the organization about making a quilt to honor the local celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“I asked our members to make 12-inch blocks. And then we would incorporate them into a quilt, and all that is what you see in front of you right now,” Morrissey said. “With the help of guild members, it was put together with the blocks.” 

Morrissey noted the center block is the local America 250 T-shirt, and the other squares are a patriotic theme. The process of making the quilt started last year during the Lebanon Area Fair. 

“We asked the community to start helping us hand stitch. The blocks themselves are machine stitched or applique. The rest of it is hand stitched. So, it started in July and it made some other stops along the way for hand stitching,” added Morrissey.

Morrissey, who is also President at Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County, said the final home for the quilt is unknown at this time. 

“That I don’t know yet,” she said with a smile, “but I’ll be sure to let you know.”  

5 p.m. – A matter of survival

Once a necessity of American life during Colonial times, quilt making experienced a renaissance, ironically, in 1976, which was the nation’s bicentennial.

“1976 was a turning point for reviving the quilt industry in this country,” said Cheryl Maulfair, a member of the Lebanon Quilters Guild. “Because there was no cotton to be found for quilts, but there was cotton in polyester. And that is where the whole industry was reawakened and we now have many ways of quilting.”

Local guild members made 18 patriotic quilts that are on display during the Celebrate 250 in the Valley anniversary program at the Expo Center. The dazzling array of red, white and blue quilts with patriotic themes is located in West Hall.

During the 1700s and thereafter, quilts were just as much about the American experience as baseball and apple pie – and for good reason.

“They were done for survival,” added Maulfair. “There wasn’t a lot of goods, there wasn’t a lot to choose from, so they used old material, old clothing, and sewed it together. They didn’t have any patterns or anything fancy.”  

Today, quilting is a common hobby enjoyed by many, according to Maulfair, who along with Deborah Bemesderfer were selling raffles for the organization’s annual fundraiser. The quilt titled Cookie Crumble was displayed behind them as they sold chances for the Nov. 2 drawing.

Speaking of quilts, the 250th anniversary quilt will be auctioned at 6 p.m. in Wenger Pavilion. 

LebTown asked anniversary committee member Jan Morrissey, who is a quilting enthusiast herself, about her feelings that the quilt was going to a new home.

It’s been on display at various events with the goal of selling it to raise funds for the anniversary celebration at the Expo Center.

“We just hope it goes to someone who can appreciate all the love and work that went into it,” Morrissey said, “‘cause there’s a lot of love and hours and hours and fabric that went into it.”

Asked if she was going to be one of the bidders, Morrissey just smiled and said with a long laugh, “Oh, that’s a secret.” 

4:25 p.m. – Weapons that won the war

The importance of the Revolutionary War items being displayed by antiques specialist David Geiger during the nation’s anniversary celebration at the Expo Center can’t be stressed enough. 

“These things are all marked to regiments or people that definitely fought for our independence,” Geiger said. “These aren’t things that maybe were used to fight. These are things that definitely fought for our independence or we’d be speaking the king’s English.”

Earlier in the day, Geiger gave a presentation about a collection from that era that’s actually owned by a Lebanon man, who wishes to remain anonymous. 

Geiger also manned a booth with a plethora of items, and he informed guests about the significance of weaponry that helped win the nation’s freedom.

Geiger’s booth was one of many at the Celebrate 250 in the Valley program at the Expo Center. The Celebrate event was held on July 4th as part of the local commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth. 

Here until 6 p.m., Geiger paused to speak with guests who wanted to know more about the items on display and experience history close-up. His display is in North Hall along the northern wall of that building.

“It’s very nice, and I’m honored to be here. I’m honored to show the collection that this gentleman has collected, and I really do it just to educate people,” said Geiger, who has appraised items for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

“I let people hold things. I want them to see them and I want to teach them about history. I do this for free and I do presentations elsewhere. It’s important to me to get younger people to understand our history and hold things and be interested in these things,” added Geiger. 

Geiger noted the importance of Kentucky long rifles, which were initially born in Pennsylvania, including those made in Lebanon County. He noted the muskets he had on display weren’t an accurate shooting weapon like the long rifles made in Pennsylvania.

“The British were fighting in straight lines in the field and they were through fields and marching through the woods and lines. And we were woodsmen. So we were using Kentucky rifles. These guys were used to hunting. And we used guerrilla warfare and Kentucky rifles to pick off their officers up to 300 yards,” added Geiger.

3 p.m. – Don’t call me a hero

By all accounts, 100-year-old Russell Sattazahn of Schaefferstown is a war hero, having fought in World War II to protect freedom and democracy here and around the world.

But he says he isn’t one, deferring that honor instead to the men and women who never made it home. Sattazahn presented the Pledge of Allegiance during the Opening Ceremony during Lebanon County’s celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday at the Celebrate 250 in the Valley program at the Expo Center.

“There’s people who say you came back and you’re the heroes of our country. No, I don’t want to be called a hero,” Sattazahn said. “I just want to be thanked for my duty and what I did. The real heroes are still over there and they still come back to me.”

Sattazahn paused for a moment, clearly being overcome with emotion of a long-ago war that is as fresh to him as if it happened yesterday.

“And make sure everybody remembers them. They are the heroes,” Sattazahn said. 

There’s little doubt that Sattazahn and every man and woman who has served their country since the nation was founded in 1776 have had a role in ensuring the nation is celebrating its 250th anniversary. 

It’s only fitting that Sattazahn’s daughter, Luann Lutz is his biggest fan. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Lutz said. “He’s been my hero since I was a little girl and that has not changed.”

Sattazahn’s duties completed, he left the fairgrounds to attend a BBQ and enjoy fireworks later in the day. 

On the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth, LebTown salutes all the men and women who have answered the call to serve their country.

1:00 p.m. – Off with a bang

Without a single firework having been fired into the sky, Lebanon County’s celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday kicked off with a bang during the opening ceremony in Wenger Pavilion.

Various patriotic music by Perseverance Band officially started the 8-plus hour celebration and while the band played prelude music, an army helicopter did a fly over at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Fairgrounds, circled the grounds and hung in the air on the west side of the pavilion as guests waved to the crew.

The 30-minute opening ceremony for Celebrate 250 in the Valley featured the Presentation of the Colors by the Civil Air Patrol Lebanon Valley Composite Squadron 265, a moving and spirted a cappella rendition of the “National Anthem” by Natasha Beaumont, and the Pledge of Allegiance by 100-year-old World War II army veteran Russell Sattazahn of Schaefferstown.

Master of ceremonies Karen Groh introduced keynote speaker Bonnie Loy, chair of the Lebanon 250 Committee, who addressed the founding of the nation.

“It was supposed to be an experiment. And here we are, 250 years later. Thank heavens for their vision and the experiment that they chose to strive for,” Loy said, in mentioning the Founding Fathers.

Loy challenged the approximate 100 people at the ceremony to be a positive influence in their community, the state and the world in the years to come.

“Will you live in the present but believe in the future? Will you cherish your neighbor? Will you care about someone else, not just yourself? Will you be part of the present and will you believe in the future? The future of our country, of our community, of our family,” Loy said. “What do you say on a day like this when you’re standing amidst an awesome community?”

Loy continued her challenge.

“If you don’t think it’s awesome, talk to someone who does. If you don’t think it’s awesome, step up to the plate and change. Don’t condemn what someone else did,” Loy said. “Be the change in our community. Be the change in our United States. Be the change in this world. You have one chance to do this. And today is a great reminder why we all should step up.”

Chaplain Dean Luther, US Department of Veteran Affairs, offered the benediction while Rev. William Worley, US Navy gave the invocation after the pledge.

 

7 a.m. – Happy birthday, America!

It’s the nation’s semiquincentennial birthday, and day-long events are planned at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Fairgrounds from 1 p.m. until the conclusion Saturday night of a fireworks show, which begins at the fairground’s grandstand at 9:15 p.m.

Please be aware that the fireworks display has been moved this year from Coleman Memorial Park.

Upon arrival at the Expo Center, there are cut outs of historic figures for guests to take a commemorative picture, and you can also grab a photo inside a large picture frame as a keepsake of the local celebration of the nation’s founding in 1776.

Inside Founder’s Hall, copies of the official program await you. The schedule of events is printed inside and the center spread contains a facility map and location of several activity sites like the Kid’s Activity Tent. 

There are several items that you will want to keep an eye out for as you wander around the center.

There’s the anniversary mosaic, two large-sized Liberty Bells, a 250th anniversary quilt (which will be auctioned at 6 p.m. in Wenger Pavilion), and various displays including Conestoga wagons, military equipment, and artwork created by area school students.

There’s also a kid’s scavenger hunt taking place throughout the day.

Committee member Nancy Gates said children will be given a pencil and a sheet listing 10 different items to find hidden in plain sight throughout the center. 

“So there are 10 different photos that are all around the Expo Center, and kids can go around and search for them,” Gates said. “As they go around – and they’re all things that are associated with history – like American flags, bells, an American eagle, and also the committee’s wooden nickels.”

Be sure to listen for announcements over the PA system for the times/locations of various historic presentations that will be given throughout the day.

6 a.m. – Did Lebanon County have a role in America’s campaign for Independence?

You bet it did.

The Lebanon Resolves was a six-point document drafted by seven prominent citizens on June 25, 1774, declared support for colonial unity and a “Congress of Deputies” more than two years before American independence.

Whether the Grubb iron furnace in Cornwall, Hessian prisoners at Tabor and Hebron, or the (possibly apocryphal) whiskey supply run by General George Washington to Schaefferstown during the bitter encampment at Valley Forge, it’s clear that the Lebanon Valley was crucial to the supply chain on which the Continental Army relied so dearly.

We should remember as well the early Lebanon Valley residents who served with the Lancaster County militia, Lebanon County then yet to be its own entity. See here for the 1st and 2nd Battalions which included a number of Lebanon Valley residents, such as the Rev. John Caspar Stoever, buried in Cleona at Hill Church. There was also Lt. John Weidman, who served under George Washington at Valley Forge and numerous battles, went on to become a surveyor, iron manufacturer and associate judge in what is now Lebanon County.

In 1792, the war won, President Washington toured the region to see the monumental works of the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Canal Company, later the Union Canal, in the area between Myerstown and Lebanon. The canal was brainchild of war financier Robert Morris, a good friend of Washington’s who in fact provided the President with his Philadelphia house, the foundations of which are still visible on Independence Mall. Perhaps Washington saw his wartime friend John Gloninger as well, at the time a newly-minted state senator.

Washington may have indulged in nostalgia for his own frontier adventures, the Lebanon Valley not far removed from a more wild era and the perfect backdrop for remembering his own early and preternatural performance during the French and Indian Wars. In this vein, perhaps he too enjoyed a ride to Light’s Fort or Fort Zeller, paying respect to the constellation of outposts which had protected the increasingly rich bounty of the middle colonies – America’s bread basket at the time. In this editor’s humble estimation, the evidence suggests quite enthusiastically that Washington would have been highly predisposed to enjoying his time in Lebanon County.

Coincidentally, another Lebanon figure, Joseph Johns, would later say in 1906 that he was the last man alive in Pennsylvania to have lived and remembered the death of the American Cincinnatus in 1799.