Saturday May 25, 10:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Memorial Day Observance

The Historical Society of Montgomery County will honor the service of soldiers and veterans interred at Historic Montgomery Cemetery, One Hartranft Avenue, Norristown, on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Wreaths will be laid at the monuments of General John Frederick Hartranft, General Winfield Scott Hancock, the Memorial Rose Garden, and at the G.A.R. Zook Post #11 Plot.

The day’s observance will begin at 11 a.m.  Local Boy Scout troops, Civil War reenactors, local Masonic lodge members, and others will assist in the wreath laying and program. Volley fire at each site will be provided by Baker Fisher Camp #101. Many of the participants will be dressed in period costumes.

Sons of Union Veterans will conduct the Rose Petal Ceremony at the graves of Civil War soldiers at the Zook GAR Post. Children in attendance will be asked to assist in the Ceremony.

Members of the community are encouraged to join in this observance. 

For information on the Historical Society of Montgomery County’s Memorial Day Observance call 610-272-0297 or email: contact@hsmcpa.org.

This week is a Patrol Leaders Council Meeting.  Only youth leaders need attend.

Situated on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River, Fort Delaware was initially constructed in the mid-1800s to protect Wilmington and Philadelphia from enemy attack. Fort Delaware served that role through WWI. The fort was among the most state-of-the-art in the nation when it was completed and housed prisoners of war during the Civil War due to its relative isolation. Within the walls of Fort Delaware, visitors can also see Battery Torbert. Along the Prison Camp Trail lies the entrance to the mine casemate that controlled the mines that were deployed in the river in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Pea Patch Heronry is one of the largest mixed species nest colony for herons, egrets, and ibis in the eastern United States. Other nesters that can be found on the island include osprey and bald eagles. Paranormal tours are offered in the fall and living history interpretation is offered year-round.

The State of Delaware deeded Pea Patch Island, located in the Delaware River between Delaware and New Jersey, to the U.S. government in 1813, and construction of Fort Delaware was completed around 1859.

Originally built to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia, Pea Patch Island also became a Union prison camp during the Civil War, housing up to as many as 12,595 Confederate prisoners of war at one time. Manned only briefly during World Wars I and II, the island and fort were finally abandoned and declared surplus property in 1944, when ownership was transferred back to the State of Delaware. Fort Delaware became a state park in 1951.

This Tuesday on May 7 is our Spring Court of Honor!  Come celebrate our youth and enjoy fellowship and refreshments.  The event will start at 7:30 .  Scouts should arrive at 7 to assist with setup.

This week is a Patrol Leaders Council Meeting.  Only youth leaders need attend.  

If you are ready for a Board of Review please come to the meeting in your Class A ready for a Scoutmaster conference and Board of Review this Tuesday at 730

The 2,338-acre Gifford Pinchot State Park is in northern York County along PA 177 between the towns of Rossville and Lewisberry. The park consists of wooded areas and hillsides from reverted farm fields surrounding the 340-acre Pinchot Lake, which serves as the prime attraction.  Sign up now!  We need to select grubmasters on Tuesday night.

This park has it all!  Large lake for boating and fishing, dozens of hiking tails including a piece of the mason-dixon trail, and modern facilities. We will be camping in the organized group tenting area E.  We have water and bathrooms within 200 yards.  We should get in a morning hike and a free afternoon for scout development or fun at the lake.