by KINGSTON, PA — This Sunday at 1:30 p.m., the Wyoming Monument will once again be the solemn site of a Revolutionary War Memorial Service, hosted by the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment for the fifth consecutive year. The event honors the brave soldiers from the Wyoming Valley—part of Pennsylvania’s rich history and the state of Wyoming—who gave their lives during the Revolutionary War.
Sherry Emershaw, president of the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment, spoke passionately about the importance of Memorial Day and remembering the first fallen soldiers from the Wyoming Valley. She emphasized how many people don’t realize the crucial role this region played in the fight for America’s independence.
“Our area has a remarkable history, including being the site of a Revolutionary War battle,” Emershaw said. “It’s truly extraordinary to think that Wyoming Valley helped shape the birth of our nation.”
The Battle of Wyoming, fought on July 3, 1778, remains one of the most significant and tragic events in local history. On that day, patriots defending their homeland were overwhelmed and massacred by a combined force of British troops and their Iroquois allies, with the bloodshed staining the fields where the monument now stands.
With the nation’s 250th anniversary fast approaching, Emershaw said it’s more important than ever to honor these sacrifices through community remembrance.
The annual Memorial Service, once held at the nearby Forty Fort Meeting House, will this year take place on the historic grounds of the Wyoming Monument itself. The 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment—comprising dedicated re-enactors and living historians—will conduct the service using 18th-century customs, including prayers from the Common Book of Prayer and hymns played on a recorder, transporting visitors back in time to what a church service in 1779 Wyoming Valley would have felt like.
During the ceremony, the names of those who died at the Battle of Wyoming and the nearby Harding Massacre on June 30, 1778, will be solemnly read aloud. The service will conclude with an honorary volley fired in their memory.
Unlike typical Memorial Day events held in cemeteries, this service is unique because it honors patriots whose remains rest beneath the Wyoming Monument itself.
“Since the bones of these fallen soldiers are right here in Wyoming Valley, protected within the Monument, it felt fitting to hold the remembrance where they lie,” Emershaw explained.
The 24th Regiment has worked closely with the Wyoming Monument Association, which supports this important tribute. The Monument usually hosts only one event each year on the Fourth of July, making this service even more special.
As part of the broader statewide celebration of Revolutionary War history, the group also aims to highlight key historic sites across Luzerne County leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
A Legacy of Valor: The 24th Connecticut Militia
The 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment was formed by Wyoming Valley residents in May 1775, shortly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord ignited the Revolution. Established to defend the local area, the regiment soon became part of the Continental Army, officially recognized by the Connecticut Assembly in October 1775—marking 2025 as its 250th anniversary.
Throughout the war, soldiers from the 24th fought in notable battles at Millstone, Bound Brook, Germantown, Brandywine, Fort Mifflin, and Monmouth. They endured the harsh winter at Valley Forge and participated in the 1779 Sullivan Expedition.
The Battle of Wyoming itself was a turning point. Known also as the Wyoming Massacre due to the brutal aftermath, it saw the 24th Regiment’s soldiers face overwhelming odds and tremendous loss.
In 1778, fallen patriots were buried in a mass grave on the battlefield. Fifty years later, their remains were respectfully moved to a vault within the Wyoming Monument, providing a sacred resting place in their home state of Pennsylvania and the Wyoming Valley.
“The 24th Regiment is honored to hold this Remembrance Service at the final resting place of these courageous patriots,” Emershaw said.
This year, the regiment will place 227 flags at the base of the Monument—each flag symbolizing a soldier lost during the Battle of Wyoming or the Harding Massacre that preceded it.
The Memorial Service offers a powerful opportunity for the Wyoming community and visitors from across Pennsylvania to reflect on the sacrifices that helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today—and to keep alive the memory of those who fought and died right here in the state of Wyoming.
