The 33rd Annual Heritage Day
Emmitsburg Civilian and Veteran Organizations and Surrounding Communities Join Together to Celebrate the 33rd Annual Heritage Day
Jim Houck, Jr.
The combined planning efforts of civilian and Veteran organizations in Emmitsburg and the surrounding communities will join together to celebrate the 33rd Annual Heritage Day (formerly Community Day) on Saturday June 27, 2015.
The Town of Emmitsburg will open their arms to everyone for a day of fun and games, a parade, and fireworks. The event, until recently, was planned and carried out by The Lions Club of Emmitsburg. The Emmitsburg Lions did an excellent job of organizing and operating this event for years. The event simply outgrew the membership of the Lions Club, and they decided it was time to ask other organizations in the community for their help. The community organizations stepped up and volunteered and are actively involved. The Veterans organizations, in the past, organized and took charge of the parades. I am proud to announce we are again as I, Jim Houck Jr. Commander SAL Squadron 121, have been assigned as coordinator of this year’s parade. I am asking all who would like to participate and have not received an invitation letter and application to please go online at emmitsburgevents.com, and print out an application to fill out and mail to the given address, call me at 717-451-1741, or email me at [email protected] and I will be glad to help you.
We are holding an art contest to start off this year’s event by inviting all Frederick County school age artists, ages six to, and including, eighteen years of age, to submit their art work entitled “The Heart Of The Civil War In Emmitsburg” by 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 15th. The art work will be displayed in the gym at the Town Office and be judged. Cash prizes; 1st prize is a $500.00 savings bond, 2nd is a $100.00 savings bond, and 3rd is a $50.00 savings bond respectively. These prizes will be issued to the winners on Heritage Day. Contest rules and an application form are available online at emmitsburgevents.com.
The actual Heritage Day festivities start off with a hearty breakfast served by the Vigilant Hose Auxiliary at the Vigilant Hose Company Main Street Fire Hall; Lions Club Annual Bar-B-Q Chicken will be served beginning at 10 a.m.; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 121 will be selling Italian Sausages, and if you had one last year, you know how great they are; a Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show will be held at the Community Park with all proceeds supporting the Emmitsburg Baseball and Softball League; a bicycle Safety Rodeo will be held; a Five mile Bike Ride for ages 12 and up, plus a One-mile Bike Ride for kids ages 5 and up; free kids rides and face painting will be offered; a Fitness Boot Camp with Steve Ames; old fashioned field games and a greased pig contest. A Grand Opening for the town’s Multi-User Trails will be held with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Several live bands will play at the bandstands and the sounds will be kept moderate, so if you would like the music louder, get closer. Horseshoe registration will be held at noon with a $5.00 entry fee, games start at one. The kickball tournament will begin at 12:30 p.m., check for new rules. The town’s community pool will be open free to the public from noon until 7:00 p.m. Vendor and crafter show and a walking history tour of Old Emmitsburg will be available. There are numerous other things under the categories of food, sports, music at the Bandstand, special exhibits and history tours and museums.
Come out and enjoy yourself and see how proud the people of Emmitsburg are about their heritage. I know I am proud to have spent the first forty years of my life in the Emmitsburg-Thurmont area. I graduated high school at Emmitsburg High and worked as a cook at Mt. St. Mary’s College while in school and for a while after school. I worked at St. Joseph’s College, now the National Fire Academy, as a cook for a few years. I worked at H.O. Toor Shoe and Freeman Shoe Factories, located where the Emmitsburg Antique Mall is located today. I used to know everyone by name within a five mile radius of Emmitsburg and now there are a lot of strangers, but that is good because it gives me an opportunity to make new friends. I sure miss a lot of the “old ones”. Heritage Day is not only a fun and play day, but it gives everyone a chance to meet new friends. In my opinion, you can never have too many friends.
God Bless all of you and have a safe trip to Heritage Day “33”. Stop by the Italian Sausage Stand and say “Howdy!” I may have a National Flag to give you and the kids.
Special Thanks to Clifford Sweeney and Patrick Joy, they are not only on the Heritage Day Committee, but they are proud members of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 121. A special thanks to Jennifer Jolly Joy for chairing the committee and to all members and participants.
