Events

Come and help distribute food to hundreds of children and families in our community from the parking lot of the Spring Creek Church of the Brethren.

Join us at Country Meadows in Hershey as we greet and honor Rotarians who call Country Meadows home, and pay tribute to our honorary member and pianist for many years, Jan Dunkle. Light refreshments and beverages are complimentary. There is free parking. Look for us at the front entrance of the main building.

Dr. Stacy Winslow, Superintent of Derry Township School District

Easter Monday is more than a name

• Christmas is always on December 25, Thanksgiving the 4th Thursday in November, and July 4th is self-explanatory. Easter, however, is calculated quite differently. It comes the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. For this reason, the unofficial holiday can come as early as the third Sunday in March and as late as the fourth Sunday in April. The day after is known as Easter Monday and it is much more than an acknowledgment of the day that proceeds it.
• Perhaps you have wondered about the significance of this date and how or why it came to be. There was a time in America when this date was observed nationally although Easter is not a national federal holiday. Americans who did not believe in what the day represented, respected those who did. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, do celebrate the day as a legal holiday as part of their cultural tradition.

Easter Monday long past

• Some American businesses were closed on the Monday following Easter Sunday years ago and children were off from school for Good Friday and Easter Monday prior to having an entire week as a break. Some people of faith scheduled paid time off from their jobs on Easter Monday and churches, as well as individuals, hosted egg hunts because the children were out of school.
• Today students have an entire week of spring break which does not always coincide with the Sunday designated to observe the Christian celebration of Christ's resurrection. It can be the weeks prior to or the one that follows what has become known as Holy week. American schools once allowed students to decorate with Easter decorations and have holiday programs but educators today no longer can mention Easter or Christmas. This is because the separation of church and state is being emphasized more in modern society

Easter Monday Celebrations in different cultures

• Easter Monday in some cultures is called Renewal Monday, or Bright Monday, which is a time to reflect on the meaning of the season. In Catholicism, the day is known as the Monday of the angel. The day after Easter/Resurrection Sunday for some is the official ending of all that leads up to the date before the work week resumes.
• Easter Monday for many is the culmination of all that has taken place beginning with Madi Gras, which includes Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, and all Holy week observances. Although America does not officially recognize Easter Monday it is a public holiday in many other countries worldwide.
• In Eastern Christianity, the Monday that follows Resurrection Sunday marks the second day of Octave which is an 8-day celebration beginning on Easter Sunday and ending the following Sunday. In Western Christianity, this is called the week of Eastertide.

Come see how our Club's District Grant is making a difference at the Leader Center for Active Life. If you are able to come early, from 10:30 - 11:00 AM, you can tour the Leader Center and see the impact our District Grant is having. Doors open for the luncheon at 11:00 AM and lunch is served at 11:30 AM. Lunch is followed by entertainment by guitarist Matt Miski.

Pete will updates us on the latest happenings at Milton Hershey and Catherine Hershey Early Education Schools

Author Courtney McKinney-Whitaker will speak abut her research and book about Charles Thomas, who served as Secretary to both Continental Congresses. This timely presentation will tie in well with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration. 

Memorial Day 2026 is on Monday, May 25, 2026, marking the federal holiday in the United States dedicated to honoring military personnel who died in service. Established as the last Monday in May by the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act, it is also considered the unofficial start of summer, often celebrated with parades, family gatherings, and visits to cemeteries.

• Date: Monday, May 25, 2026.
• Purpose: To honor, remember, and mourn U.S. service members who lost their lives in military conflicts.
• Origin: Originally known as "Decoration Day" to decorate graves with flowers after the Civil War.
• Observances: Many people visit cemeteries, fly the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon, and participate in a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time.
• Traditions: Parades, community gatherings, and barbecues are common, marking the unofficial start of summer.

Amy Zeigler - Senior Director, Hershey Story Museum.