Boalsburg Memorial Day Ceremony Honors Service to the Nation

Boalsburg capped its annual Memorial Day weekend events on Monday with a solemn reminder of the holiday’s meaning and origin.

After days of festivities, tributes and historical experiences, community members conducted the late afternoon walk to the cemetery for the Memorial Day ceremony to remember those who gave their lives in military service to the United States.

It marked the 162nd year that the village has honored fallen service members.

Boalsburg’s ties to the founding of the national holiday date back to 1864, when in the midst of the Civil War three women decorated the graves of soldiers buried in the village cemetery.

That gesture by Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller and Elizabeth Myers was the start of a tradition, one which stakes Boalsburg’s claim as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Though other towns lay claim to being the founding place of Memorial Day, Boalsburg’s annual commemoration has become a draw throughout Centre County and beyond.

Activities over the weekend included the five-day Fireman’s Carnival, historical reenactments at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, 5K Walk to Remember Our Fallen, the Boalsburg Fire Company parade and the Memorial Day run.

Monday included a full day of music, tours, vendors, family fun and more at Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum, Boalsburg Heritage Museum, Military Museum and in the village. This year’s “Day in Town” included a giant birthday cake to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.