In honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, the summer calendar has been filled with patriotic events! To kick-off the celebrations, flags were placed all around Westvue Court by the Life Enrichment team and Residents in the Apostles Center for Care. Additional flags were placed all around our campus by our grounds team.
In May, the Homestead Harmony Chorale put their hearts and souls into their representation of America’s 250th year which featured Americana and Patriotic music.
The Homestead Harmony Chorale sings patriotic songs for America 250 Celebration.
Our monthly History Group discussed “Monuments and National Parks” led by Pete Christie.
In June, we kicked off a three-week Education Series “Liberty Lived Here: Lancaster in Revolutionary America”
In late June, Residents enjoyed a fun-filled red-white-and-blue patriotic theme dinner. This event featured a pig roast meal and included American History trivia led by local DJ Bill Coder.
Educational programming included a lecture series from local historian Ben Webber covering the impacts of the revolutionary war on Lancaster County, as well as a lecture entitled: Capital Day: Lancaster and the Revolution – presented by Adam Zurn. Residents also enjoyed highlights from Lancaster’s Revolutionaries Exhibit at Historic Rock Ford – presented by Sarah Alberico.
On July 4, we showed “The First American” a movie highlighting George Washington and his role in winning the American Revolution.
And later in July, our Resident, Rob Bresler gave a powerful and moving presentation entitled “Patriotic Moments in Classic Films” which featured vignettes from memorable films of the years surrounding WWII. Rob’s ongoing history and classic films programs bring so much to Homestead residents.
Residents also attended the Allegro Orchestra’s Stars & Stripes Forever concert!
Pictured below, members of the knitting & crocheting club partnered with Lancaster County’s George Ross Society Children of the American Revolution (CAR) to create star keychains as part of their “Stitching the Stars” initiative. Proceeds from the sale of the star keychains will support the preservation of an historic flag which was made by Betsy Ross’s daughter, Clarissa Wilson, and will be displayed at the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia. Ross was an American upholsterer and flag maker who is often credited as having sewn the first US flag in 1776. In the words of Patti Olson, Homestead Village Resident and chair of the Knitters & Crocheters club, “our group enjoyed working with Lancaster County’s George Ross Society Children of the American Revolution (CAR) families last night. They accomplished a lot in stuffing, sewing stars together, and adding key chains and eyes. They were a fun group; there was a lot of friendly chatter as we worked.” The ladies from the Homestead Village knitting & crocheting group included Bernie Fickes, Robyn Alspach, Faith Delaney, Judy Fischer, Judy Chuhran, and Patti Olson.
Residents and CAR members and families assembled hand-crocheted star keychains to benefit historic flag preservation at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia.
It has been an educational and meaningful summer filled with reverence for our history and optimism for our future.