This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Commemorate Memorial Day Where It Was Founded

Visit Boalsburg's 147th Annual Memorial Day Festival in Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Memorial Day is a holiday often commemorated with events held in honor of U.S. military personnel who have given their lives in battle over the centuries. Many families also host backyard picnics, but few people have experienced the day as it was experienced by those who first celebrated it in the village of Boalsburg in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in 1864.

Almost 150 years ago, Boalsburg resident Emma Hunter and two of her friends went to lay flowers on the grave of her Hunter's father, Dr. Reuben Hunter, who died of yellow fever while attending to the wounded soldiers during his service in the Civil War. Along the way to the cemetery, the girls met Mrs. Elizabeth Myers, whose son, Amos, had been killed in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. 

After laying flowers on the grave, the woman and the young girls decided to meet the following year to place flowers on the local graves of all who had died in the Civil War. They recruited others in the village and thus began the tradition of meeting in Boalsburg Square before proceeding to the cemetery to remember the fallen soldiers.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Since then, the U.S. has been involved in many more wars resulting in countless military casualties, and Memorial Day has become a symbolic day for those whose lives have been affected by the deaths of family members, friends and community members. It is an annual reminder that they are not alone in their feelings of grief, and an opportunity for them to know that the loss of their loved one was a sacrifice made in service to and for the nation. 

This weekend about 20,000 people will descend upon Boalsburg to walk from the diamond in the village square to the cemetery where Emma Hunter and Elizabeth Myers first laid wreaths in honor of their fallen loved ones so many years ago. They will do so not only in remembrance of the deceased soldiers buried in Boalsburg, but also of all members of the Armed Services buried in cemeteries and on battlefields, both here in the U.S. and abroad.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Boalsburg, the celebration lasts the whole weekend, from Thursday to Monday, 9am to 5pm. It will include Civil War reenactments, artisan demonstrations, live music and dancing around a Maypole, in addition to a carnival sponsored by a local fire department.

On Monday, a commemorative procession from the town square to the cemetery will take place at 5:45pm, followed by a service expressing the gratitude of the community for the sacrifices made by those who have died in military service. 

Although there are many bed and breakfasts in and around Boalsburg, most are already booked this weekend. The good news, however, is that accommodations are available in nearby State College and Centre Hall, and many are excellent. The Earlystown Manor, for example, is a popular bed and breakfast in Centre Hall, and it is only minutes from all the Boalsburg festivities.

The Earlystown Manor is located on a 10-acre private property surrounded by rolling mountains and beautiful countryside. Its modern construction is contrasted by its 19th century furnishings. A full breakfast is provided each morning and hosts Zane and Anne Smilowitz treat their guests like family.

Double occupancy rooms such as the Balcony Room, Skylite Room and the Library Room are available for $150 per night. If you are taking the whole family, you may want to rent the carriage house at the inn, which is available for $310 per night. Both are part of a Memorial Day special offered by the Earlystown Manor. One stipulation of the Memorial Day special is a three night minimum stay.

If you were ever curious about the origins of Memorial Day, this weekend is your opportunity to learn more, without having to leave Pennsylvania. It all began with a few flowers on a grave, and now has become something much greater--truly a part of the American legacy.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?