Help us bring back a cherished Harrisburg tradition! Sign the petition to restore the annual Armed Forces Day family celebration, military displays, and a kids' obstacle challenge on City Island for May 2027.

  For years, the Armed Forces Day celebration on City Island was a massive, beloved annual tradition for families across the Greater Harrisburg area. Many of us fondly remember the excitement of seeing heavy military vehicle displays, honoring our local service members, and watching kids challenge themselves on the community obstacle courses. Over the last decade, this traditional celebration quietly phased off the island's schedule. We believe it is time to bring it back!

   We are launching a grassroots civic initiative to safely and legally revive this family tradition for May 2027. Recognizing that safety guidelines and city footprints have evolved, we are pitching a modernized format to the City of Harrisburg and the PA National Guard. Our updated plan replaces the old rigid wooden setups with a fully insured, commercial military-themed inflatable obstacle course alongside static military displays, local food vendors, and a veteran resource fair.

  This initiative isn't just about bringing back a fun day on the island—it is about honoring the very bloodline of my family and inspiring the next generation. Military service runs deep in my family. My grandfathers, both of my parents, my brothers, my uncles, and my cousins have all proudly worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. In our house, we say that service and appreciation for our country are simply in our blood.
Growing up all over the country, and other countries, my parents made the Harrisburg area our home, my siblings and I used to look forward to the City Island Armed Forces Day celebration every single year. Crossing that walking bridge and my siblings laughing at my fear of heights, hearing the helicopters, and pushing ourselves to finish the kids' obstacle course are some of my absolute favorite childhood memories. It made us feel so proud of our family, our military, and our city.
Recently, I realized something that broke my heart: my own child, nieces, and nephews have never gotten to experience this event. Because it quietly faded away over a decade ago, an entire generation of children are missing out on a tradition that brought our community together so beautifully.

I am launching this petition because I want to change that. I want to honor the legacy of my parents, my grandfathers, my brothers and every single local veteran who served. More than that, I want our children to feel that same spark of community pride, excitement, and gratitude that we felt growing up.

Why your signature matters:

  By signing this petition, you are telling City Council and local leaders that Harrisburg families want to bring this positive, patriotic, and high-energy tradition back to City Island.

  Please add your name to help me bring this tradition home to City Island for May 2027. Our families and our veterans deserve it!
Let's show our military families and our local community your support. Please sign and share today!