Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, you’ll want to spend it in Montgomery County.

The appeal of Valley Forge as a place to honor the U.S. military is obvious. Its 3,500-acre footprint is commonly recognized as the birthplace of the U.S. Army, given the strategic role it played during the American Revolution.

According to the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, there are more Memorial Day honorifics in Montgomery County this year than in Philadelphia, our nation’s first capital.

The VFTCB lists Memorial Day programs that celebrate the fallen members of our military:

• Patriotic concerts at both Valley Forge National Historical Park and in Ambler
• Memorial services in Norristown and Phoenixville
• A veterans’ luncheon in Schwenksville
• Fireworks in Hatboro
• Parades in Lansdale, Gladwyne, Trappe, and Ardmore

“Montgomery County finds great meaning in Memorial Day,” says Mike Bowman, VFTCB President and CEO. “This holiday is set apart from Veterans Day because it particularly reminds us of military personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. It’s an appropriate time to remember those first U.S. troops, the 2,000 soldiers who died as a result of the 1777 encampment at Valley Forge.”

The VFTCB recognizes that the holiday is also a popular time for families to enjoy a break from school and work and bond a little more tightly. It is positioning Montgomery County as a worthy and economical alternative to a trip to either the shore or the mountains.

“People don’t realize that what they find attractive about the Shore and the Poconos can be enjoyed right here in Montgomery County,” says Bowman. “Families can get some fresh air and exercise on our 91 miles of trails; they can enjoy Boardwalk-style amusements in an indoor setting; see a movie in a historic, restored theater; get out on the open water for boating or fishing; and even ride a Civil War-era train.”