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November 2011 Updating of War Flag Memorial Veterans Day, November 11, 2011
October 2011 Restoration of Community Mausoleum at Prospect Hill Cemetery York Daily Record Article & Video: Rejuvenation of York mausoleum under way at Prospect Hill Cemetery
September 2011 Court of Valor Updating and 9/11 Observance, September 11, 2011 York Dispatch Article & Video: 38 names added to York County's Court of Valor in solemn ceremony
December 2010 Retirement of Iraq War Flag Memorial, December 7, 2010 Flag Retirement Ceremony - Images by John Pavoncello With the approach of winter, the Iraq & Afghanistan War Flag display was taken down as it has in previous years. However, this year, after careful consideration and consultation with veteran leaders, the Historic Prospect Hill Cemetery Heritage Foundation decided to permanently retire the Iraq War Flag section of the display. This decision has been made as a result of official declarations that combat operations in Iraq have ended. The cemetery foundation worked with the Shiloh American Legion and several VFW posts to properly retire 4,427 American flags, all of which have served their useful purpose. The retirement took place inside Prospect Hill Cemetery’s main entrance on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th at 3:30 p.m. Flag memorial creators felt is was important to retire the existing flags on the same field they have decorated for the last six years. Planning is underway for a permanent memorial on the site to honor and remember combat losses suffered in Iraq since 2003. News coverage WGAL: 4,000 Flags Honoring U.S. Service Members Meet Their End ABC27: U.S. Soldiers Lost in Iraq Remembered in York Ceremony
November 2010 Updating the Iraq & Afghanistan War Flag Memorial, November 11, 2010 York’s historic Prospect Hill Cemetery held a flag updating ceremony on Veterans Day, November 11, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. One hundred sixty-six flags (12 for Iraq, 149 for Afghanistan, 5 for Pennsylvania) were added to the 5,879 flags already on display. In addition, two new fallen hero banners were unveiled, honoring soldiers who have been killed while serving in Afghanistan. The Iraq War Flag Memorial consists of three distinct collections of flags. The first symbolizes soldiers killed in Iraq, the second honors servicemen who have perished in Afghanistan, and the third recognizes our fallen Pennsylvania troops. During the service, participants read the names of America’s latest losses. A new flag was placed into the ground and a bell tolled to honor the fallen. The service concluded with a gun salute from the York County Veterans Honor Guard, a dove release, and a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace. During the service, two soldiers with local ties were honored posthumously with fallen hero banners. The first banner paid tribute to Sergeant First Class Daniel Suplee, who was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard’s 53rd Brigade/153rd Calvary. Sergeant Suplee was helping to evacuate wounded soldiers when he was injured during a vehicle collision in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2006. His wife and children currently reside in York County. Suplee’s banner was commissioned at the family’s request and sponsored by Brooks-Huff Tire & Auto Centers. A second fallen hero banner recognizing Marine Lance Corporal Ralph J. Fabbri was also added at the request of Fabbri’s family. Lance Corporal Fabbri was a combat photographer on patrol in Helmand Province in September, 2010 when he was shot and killed. His immediate family lives in York County. Military & Commercial Fasteners has provided the funding for this project. WRCT: Prospect Hill Flag Updating Ceremony, November 11, 2010
October 2010 Updating the Court of Valor, October 2, 2010 Court of Valor - Images by John Pavoncello
Court of Valor Monument Updating October 2, 2010 at 11 a.m. The Court of Valor monument will be updated on Saturday, October 2, 2010. The service will begin at 11 a.m. This year, almost 80 names will be added to the 162 already incised on the memorial's granite surface. The monument is dedicated to local veterans who have received valor medals acknowledging brave and heroic actions while serving the United States. All of the honorees have submitted military documents in order to prove their status as valor medal recipients. A committee of military experts has reviewed submissions and agreed that the proper criteria has been met for inclusion. The Court of Valor was unveiled in 2009. The monument consists of a granite archway over 13' high and more than 11' wide; over 15,000 pounds of granite were used in its construction. Under the prominent archway is suspended an American flag, a symbol of the freedom our patriots defended. Topping the monument is an iconic piece of steel from the World Trade Center, weighing 3,000 pounds and measuring 9' 11" in length. Prospect Hill Cemetery will continue to accept submissions from local veterans. Annual updating ceremonies will depend on the number of qualifying candidates. Download a PDF of the invitation. Download instructions and a map.
July 2010 News coverage of restoration at Soldiers' Circle WGAL-8 News Slideshow: Workers Restore 19th Century Monument at Historic Cemetery FOX-43 News Story & Video: Historic Civil War statue & memorial gets a makeover
JUNE 14, 2010 FLAG DAY Flag Retirement Ceremony at Prospect Hill Cemetery
JUNE 2010 Iraq & Afghanistan War Flag Memorial Photo Galleries Click here to link to John Pavoncello's photo gallery.
22 MARCH 2010 Christian Science Monitor: The Invisible Wars Click here to link to the article.
19 NOVEMBER 2009 ViEW Photos from the Court of Valor Ceremony Click image to see all photos from this event.
11 SEPTEMBER 2009 9/11 Icon Comes to Prospect Hill Cemetery Click image to view all photos from this event.
September 2009 News coverage of the 9/11 ceremony WGAL-8 News Story: Kennedy Airport Hangar Houses 9/11 Artifacts New York Times Article: Trade Center Wreckage Finds New Purpose in Memorials FOX-43 News Story & Video: World Trade Center Beam Arrives in North York for 9/11 Anniversary York Dispatch Video: A Permanent Reminder at Prospect Hill
February - MARCH 2009 We're celebrating 160 years with our best savings ever!
10 DECember 2008 York Daily Record : LETTER TO THE EDITOR Thanks to Flag Display Supporters For four years, American flags have been multiplying along the hillside at Prospect Hill Cemetery. The army of red, white and blue symbolizes individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan. This week, volunteers and one York County family who lost a son to these conflicts dismantled the memorial for the winter. As we retire the flag display, we would like to thank those who supported the project in so many ways. Read the entire letter of thanks here.
12 NOVEMBER 2008 Power Point Presentation presented before the Rotary Club of York The History of Prospect Hill Cemetery: Be Well Remembered...
10 NOVember 2008 York Daily Record Coverage of Flag Updating Ceremony Tomorrow, the flag display will grow Tomorrow, Veterans Day, volunteers will fan out on the slope of the Prospect Hill Cemetery facing George Street and add 97 flags to the thousands of others planted in the grass. The total number of flags will top 5,000. One each for every American soldier's life lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is the fourth year the flags have had to be updated. Four years and thousands of flags. Read the entire article here.
Fallen heroes banner program unveiled Prospect Hill Cemetery unveiled six new banners honoring Our Fallen Heroes from York County during the August 23 Flag Updating Ceremony. To find out how to participate in this program or to sponsor a banner, please contact Steliana Vassileva at (717) 843-8006 or email steliana@prospecthill.org
Court of Valor Program Announced Plans for a new Veterans Memorial were announced this month. The new Court of Valor Monument is designed to honor “the heroes among us.” Those who have been awarded valor medals by our grateful nation can have their names permanently incised on a timeless granite memorial, at no cost to them or their family. Please visit the Court of Valor page for more information. |
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