On Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, more than 80 unarmed U.S. soldiers were gunned down by German forces in what's now known as the Malmedy Massacre. Among those impacted by this World War II event were 10 soldiers from Lancaster County, and now the Mount Joy Rotary wants to make sure they are never forgotten.

A Malmedy Massacre Memorial Dedication will be held on Sunday, June 14, from 3 to 5 p.m. It will begin with a memorial service from 3 to 3:45 p.m. at Mount Joy Church of God, 30 E. Main St.

Scout Troop 39 will serve as color guard, and Rotarian David Christian will be the master of ceremonies. There will be a keynote speaker, with additional remarks by Eagle Scout Todjr Dohl. Robert Brinser and Steve Hassinger will provide special music, and chaplain Dave Lloyd will offer a prayer and benediction.

"Following the memorial service at Mount Joy Church of God, the color guard from Scout Troop 39, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mount Joy, will lead participants in a walking procession from the church to Mount Joy War Memorial Park for the outdoor memorial dedication ceremony," said Rotary president Joanne Pinkerton. "The procession symbolizes the community's shared journey of remembrance, honor and tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Malmedy Massacre."

The dedication ceremony will run from 4:15 to 5 p.m. at War Memorial Park, located at the corner of Marietta Avenue and Market Street in Mount Joy.

"As guests arrive at the park, the Donegal Alumni Band will provide patriotic music to help set the tone for an afternoon of remembrance and honor for veterans, families, friends and relatives of the 10 Lancaster County soldiers connected to the memorial," Pinkerton said.

At the dedication ceremony, the name of each of the soldiers who perished in the massacre will be read and a memorial bell will be rung as a flag is placed into the memorial. County Commissioner Josh Parsons will present a proclamation, and Mount Joy mayor Timothy Bradley will speak. Dohl and Collin Splain, members of Troop 53, will serve as flag handlers. Rotarians Scott Albert and Paul "Lefty" Gardner will announce the soldiers' names. The ceremony will conclude with the playing of taps. Following the ceremony, people will be invited to remain for light refreshments and to join in celebrating the birthday of the United States Army, which is also observed on June 14.

As Christian explained, the idea for the memorial grew out of planning for the Rotary Club of Mount Joy's 100th anniversary celebration in June of 2025.

"The original memorial concept was envisioned by Eagle Scout Todjr Dohl as part of his Eagle Scout project," Christian said. "Inspiration for the memorial also came from Harold Billow of Mount Joy, believed to be the last living survivor connected to the Malmedy Massacre, who for many years honored his fallen comrades by placing 87 American flags in his yard on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Dec. 17 - the anniversary of the massacre. The Rotary Club of Mount Joy embraced the project as part of its century-long tradition of 'Service Above Self,' helping transform the vision into a permanent community memorial."

Richard Ryder and the WWII Preservation Group will provide a military display to honor Billow and his comrades at the June 14 event. For 20 years, the WWII Preservation Group gathered with Billow, a Mount Joy resident who passed away in 2022, for lunch the day of the Mount Joy Memorial Day Parade.

Planning, fundraising and community partnerships to make the memorial possible began in late 2025, and groundbreaking and construction started in May.

"This dedication is an opportunity for the community to come together to remember and honor the courage and sacrifice of the 84 American soldiers who lost their lives during one of World War II's most tragic events," said Rotarian Cris Rhyner, encouraging people to attend the event. "The memorial especially recognizes the 10 Lancaster County soldiers connected to the massacre and preserves their stories for future generations. The event is intended not only as a remembrance ceremony, but also as a celebration of patriotism, community service and historical education."

The memorial was made possible through community partnerships, donations, engraved memorial brick sponsorships, local businesses, volunteers, veteran organizations and the Mount Joy community, Rhyner said, adding, "The project reflects a united community effort to preserve local history and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II."

Reservations are encouraged but not required. To register, visit http://www.mountjoyrotary.org.

The service and ceremony will be held rain or shine. To arrange for handicapped-accessible parking, contact Pinkerton at 717-653-5911. Entrance to the church is located on Henry Street.