LVMAC Tidbit — Come! Salute the Troops

To the General Public:LVMAC Salute to Troops Dinner Flyer 2013 v2

On May 3rd, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) and the City of Allentown are sponsoring the tenth, annual “Salute to the Troops” dinner to honor our local military, veterans and their families. This festive occasion celebrates those who have recently returned to us and those who still serve us.  As part of our community, we ask you to express your own appreciation through taking the time to attend.

The dinner will be held at The Palace, 623 Hanover Avenue in Allentown.  Cocktails will begin at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. Event normally ends around 10 p.m.  Free parking is available onsite.

Cost is $35 per person.  All serving military and a guest are being invited to the dinner at no cost. (more…)

LVMAC Tidbit — BSA Troop 57 Spreads Its Ashes on Graves

Retired Flag Ceremonies to Occur in June; Recognizing the Fifth Anniversary of the Program

BSA PA 57 A2G June 2013 FlyerBoy Scout of America Troop 57, jointly sponsored by Union Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Schnecksville and Union United Church of Christ of Neffs, will incinerate American flags at its Fifth Annual Flag Retirement Ceremony at 7:00pm on Tuesday, June 11th on the grounds of the Schnecksville Fire Company.

On June 18th, it will conduct its “Ashes to Graves” ceremony, at which time the incinerated ashes will be spread on Veteran Memorials and veterans’ graves in various church cemeteries located in the Lehigh Valley.   In the opinion of Mr. Peter Hermany, Event Coordinator, and others, this is much more fitting way to dispose of the ashes than dumping them in a trash can, as has occurred.

This year’s Flag Retirement Ceremony will include various tributes honoring the history of our flag, a special salute to military, and a review of the five year history of the “Ashes to Graves” program in addition to the cremation of the flags.  The Troop is therefore asking veterans and veterans organizations to participate in attending this event.

Flags will be collected starting the first week of May.  See below for contacts. (more…)

Forward Observer — Pending Payday Lending Legislation: A Debt Trap for Military Veterans

Kerry Smith, Community Legal Services Warns of the Danger

LVMAC Poster Art 2005Kerry Smith, Staff Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, a leading advocate for low income residents in the Philadelphia area, spoke to the Council at its 20 March business meeting as a member of a coalition of over 90 organizations – including the Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, MOAA of Pennsylvania, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania; and the Council of Churches, AFL-CIO and AARP of Pennsylvania – who have concerns about the recent lobbying to allow payday lending in Pennsylvania, which is currently illegal. (more…)

LVMAC Tidbit — Wan’a Trip to the World War II Memorial?

This trip is for World War II veterans.  The WWII Homefront Gals and Guys organization, operating out of Berks and Lancaster County, is sponsoring a trip to the World War II Memorial on 27 April 2013.  For a few in our area of operations, the pick up points at the Berkshire Mall and the Lancaster Shopping Center are reasonably close.  We hear they are having trouble filling the bus.  So maybe you can bring your own “chaperone”? (more…)