Memorial Day Tributes Planned at SteelStacks

Local servicemen and women who have lost their lives while serving and protecting our nation will be honored during the Memorial Day Celebration at on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The weekend-long event, which will also pay tribute to veterans and active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, will feature a memorial service on Memorial Day, as well as patriotic and family-focused programming throughout the weekend.

More than 200 images of local veterans and active military personnel will also be on display on the SteelStacks campus as part of the “Our Hometown Heroes” display.

On Monday, the community will remember those who have lost their lives in battle during the Time to Remember memorial service. The service, which will take place at 3 p.m., will include a moment of silence, presentation of colors by the Lehigh Valley Young Marines, the national anthem sung by North Penn Four Barbershop Quartet and the reading of the names of local servicemen and women killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dave Lobach, president and CEO of event sponsor , finds the SteelStacks location particularly meaningful for a Memorial Day celebration. 

“For decades, Bethlehem Steel was known as the ‘arsenal of democracy’ for its output of steel that helped win two world wars,” Lobach said. “Embassy Bank feels that this is an appropriate site to honor those who continue to protect democracy today and we’re proud to be a part of this remembrance.”

On Sunday at 3 p.m., the Lehigh Valley Steel Drum Band will perform patriotic music, while on Monday at 5:30 p.m., The Manhattan Dolls, dressed in period attire, will showcase the Great American Songbook and music that was popular during the 1930s and ’40s.

Other performers during the weekend include Sing 4 America, the Easton Boys and Girls Be Great Drill Team and the Spirit of the Airwaves Players (S.O.A.P), which will recreate popular radio broadcasts from the World War II era.

The Memorial Day Celebration will also include The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers, the national organization dedicated to assisting soldiers deployed overseas and their families; Veterans Sanctuary, a community based treatment center dedicated to serving veterans; the digital media exhibits “Afghanistan’s Agony” by Franco Pagetti and “Obama’s Burden” by Christopher Morris from the VII photo agency; and a military Mack truck on display.

As a way of giving back to those who have given so much to protect and serve our nation over the years, is also offering veterans and active servicemen and women the opportunity to take advantage of a special Buy One Ticket, Get One Ticket Free offer to select concerts at the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Café. The offer is available only for walk-up ticket purchases at the ArtsQuest Center, as well as at the , 25. W Third St.

Concerts included in the offer are:

• June 1 - Splintered Sunlight
• June 16 - Classic Albums Live – The Doors’ LA Woman’ & Greatest Hits
• July 6 - John Mayall