Elysburg is a quiet town nestled just east of central Pennsylvania. The community is best known for hosting a Labor Day Weekend celebration called All Home Days that honors the service of local military members. The event features a parade, a car show, sumo wrestling and live performances. However, this year's celebration will feature a patriotic new addition.
Teenagers from the Shamokin's juvenile delinquent program paired up with local veterans to create a display called The Field of Honor. The boys, all low-level offenders, participated in the project as part of their community service commitment. In partnership with the local veterans, they planted 5,000 flags in Ralpho Township Community Park. Each of the flags is meant to represent the nearly 90,000 veterans from the surrounding areas.
The boys' supervisor, Timothy Vincent, told WNEP News that the young men were happy to help out with the project.
"It gives them a new-found respect for not only veterans, but it gives them respect for other adults that they normally are coming down at," Vincent said.
The Fields of Honor will be a featured attraction at the town's All Home Days celebration.