The cancellation of last year's Memorial Day Pilgrimage, a local tradition, was heartbreaking for organizers Alan Noll and Mike Martin. So heartbreaking in fact, that a small delegation representing the United Veterans Council of New Holland went forth to the locations reading a prayer and observing a moment of silence. "This started in 1922," said Noll.

"It's our 99th year (in 2021)," added Martin, president of the United Veterans Council, who added that this year "everything is back to normal."

This year's pilgrimage will be held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, with members of the United Veterans Council, which includes representatives from the New Holland American Legion, the New Holland AMVETS, and the New Holland Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), organizing the event.

Those joining in the pilgrimage are invited to gather at the American Legion Hall Post 662, located at 35 S. Hoover Ave., New Holland, at 6:30 a.m. The United Veterans Council will be joined by representatives of local organizations, including the Sons of the American Legion, the Legion Riders, and musicians from the New Holland Band. Veterans living in the area are invited to join the delegation and take part in the event. The public is also encouraged to attend each ceremony.

As in the past, the delegation will visit area cemeteries, beginning with Ranck's United Methodist Church at 7 a.m., followed by Cedar Grove Presbyterian at 7:15 a.m. and Bridgeville Evangelical Congregational Church at 7:30 a.m. From Bridgeville, the group will journey to Weaverland Mennonite Church at 7:45 a.m., Bowmansville Memorial Park at 8:15 a.m., and St. John's Center Lutheran Church at 9 a.m. The group plans to arrive at Terre Hill Memorial Park at 9:15 a.m., followed by Voganville Cemetery at 10 a.m. The pilgrimage will continue to Groffdale Cemetery by 10:20 a.m. and Zeltenreich Reformed Church at 10:40 a.m. The group is scheduled to reach the Evangelical United Methodist Church in New Holland at 11:05 a.m. The final two ceremonies will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church at 11:20 a.m. and at St. Stephen Reformed Church at 11:30 a.m. The churches are located adjacent to each other in downtown New Holland.

The group holds a short ceremony at the grave of the last veteran buried at each site. If family members of that veteran are present, they are given a geranium to place on the grave as part of the ceremony, which involves rifle fire and the playing of taps.

The veterans' delegation will meet at 11:50 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, located at the corner of East Jackson Street and South Kinzer Avenue, for a brief ceremony. At noon, the group will join the band in the park to hear a presentation by Larry Alexander, retired journalist and military historian.

Both Noll and Martin expressed gratitude for being able to hold the event again. Members of the United Veterans Council would like to see younger veterans involved in helping to preserve the tradition of the pilgrimage. Veterans who would like to participate may call Chet Gordon at 717-371-2042.