LIFESTYLE

Memorial Day 2011 — Fly the Flag, Watch the Parade, Attend the Service

PAT FRIDGEN
Magisterial District Judge Duane Cunningham raised new United States and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania flags at the district office Tuesday morning. They both flew at the state capitol in Harrisburg on March 4, 2011. The banners were donated to the Lilian S. Besore Memorial Library by Rep. Todd Rock and Cunningham purchased them at Besore's Spring Fling fundraiser.

There are many ways to commemorate Memorial Day 2011 in the Greencastle-Antrim community.

A Fly Your Flag campaign has been initiated by three Greencastle organizations. VFW Post 6319, American Legion Post 373 and the Rescue Hose Company encourage residents to fly their American flags from now through Memorial Day. The banners will honor Master Sgt. Benjamin Bitner, a Greencastle native who was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 23. They will also honor the memory of all servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. A memorial service for Bitner, 37, Jackson Springs, N.C., will be held at 2 p.m. May 28 at the Special Events Center.

Plans have been made for the annual Memorial Day observance in the Greencastle-Antrim community, sponsored by the Greencastle American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

A parade and memorial ceremony will be held Monday, May 30, through downtown Greencastle and at the Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The parade will begin at Allison Street and proceed west on Baltimore Steet and through town to the Cedar Hill Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the Veterans Memorial Rostrum in the cemetery at approximately 11 a.m.

Col. Joseph R. Seliciano from the Carlisle War College will be the speaker.

Those attending the service should bring chairs.

A Fly Your Flag campaign has been initiated by three Greencastle organizations. VFW Post 6319, American Legion Post 373 and the Rescue Hose Company encourage residents to fly their American flags from now through Memorial Day. The banners will honor Master Sgt. Benjamin Bitner, a Greencastle native who was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 23. They will also honor the memory of all servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. A memorial service for Bitner, 37, Jackson Springs, N.C., will be held at 2 p.m. May 28 at the Special Events Center. The annual Memorial Day observance will be held Monday morning, May 30, with a parade and ceremony at Cedar Hill Cemetery.