It's a time-honored tradition and a Strasburg hallmark.

The 34th annual Veterans Concert featuring the Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band will be held Sunday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Strasburg Borough office, 145 Precision Ave.

The free event will honor servicemen and servicewomen. Visitors should bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. If there is inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Strasburg Fire Company station, 203 Franklin St.

The concert has been sponsored by the Strasburg Lions Club since 2014. Prior to 2014, the get-together was sponsored by the Strasburg VFW and organized by the late Donald A. Bachman. "When Donnie passed away, the Lions Club thought it would be a good idea to continue having the concerts," said Bruce Ryder, a member of the Lions Club who organizes the event.

The Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band, conducted by Howard Boots, will perform patriotic and march music, including "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Salute to the Patriots," "Block M March," "Hostrauser's March," "Armed Forces - The Pride of America," and "Stars and Stripes Forever."

"It's something pleasant for folks to do," said Ryder. "Come out and be entertained and recognized for their service. Everybody (who) comes has a good time."

The 40-member band, celebrating its 34th anniversary, plays at a variety of local venues throughout the year, Ryder said. Boots is a graduate of Millersville University and is a former music educator in the Cocalico School District. The Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band rehearses weekly throughout the year at Community United Methodist Church, Lancaster, on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. New members are welcome.

The Strasburg Lions Club was chartered in 1932 as a member of Lions Clubs International and currently has over 40 members. "In addition to sponsoring the Veterans Concert, the Strasburg Lions Club provides financial support to numerous local community organizations, such as Strasburg-Heisler Library, Strasburg/Willow Street Softball Baseball Association, Strasburg Scout House, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Strasburg Playground Association, Strasburg Cemetery, Strasburg Pool, Strasburg Community Park, First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, Salvation Army, L-S Post Prom, Santa's Helpers, and several scholarship awards to Lampeter-Strasburg graduates," said Ryder.

He stated that the club also contributes to national disaster relief efforts including delivery of tractor trailer loads of donated supplies and materials organized by PA Lions District 14-D and by the Lions Club International Foundation.

The club supports VisionCorps (formerly known as the Susquehanna Association for the Vision Impaired), which provides job training and employment opportunities so that people who are blind or vision impaired can attain independence. The club collects used eyeglasses, which are cleaned and provided to needy individuals in the third world, and supports Beacon Lodge Camp, which provides summer camp experiences to blind and other special needs individuals.

New members are welcome. Call 717-575-7462 for more information.