For information on submitting an obituary, please contact Reading Eagle by phone at 610-371-5018, or email at obituaries@readingeagle.com or fax at 610-371-5193.
Most obituaries published in the Reading Eagle are submitted through funeral homes and cremation services, but we will accept submissions from families. Obituaries can be emailed to obituaries@readingeagle.com.
In addition to the text of the obituary, any photographs that you wish to include can be attached to this email. Please put the text of the obituary in a Word document, a Google document or in the body of the email. The Reading Eagle also requires a way to verify the death, so please include either the phone number of the funeral home or cremation service that is in charge of the deceased’s care or a photo of his/her death certificate. We also request that your full name, phone number and address are all included in this email.
All payments by families must be made with a credit card. We will send a proof of the completed obituary before we require payment. The obituary cannot run, however, until we receive payment in full.
Obituaries can be submitted for any future date, but they must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to its running for it to be published.
Please call the obituary desk, at 610-371-5018, for information on pricing.
The Way We Were celebrated America’s 250th anniversary at Longswamp Township Community Park on Sept. 20.
The event hosted by the Longswamp Township America250 Committee aimed to bring the community together to set the stage for celebrating the 250th anniversary of America in 2026.
The celebration also incorporates the education of individual moments in Longswamp Township’s history.
Serving as a reminder of celebrating America’s anniversary, flags line the fence at the community park. Flag poles set up in a prepped area mark what will be the township’s America250 Rock Garden.
The Betsy Ross Flag also flies overhead. Adopted in 1777, the Betsy Ross Flag contains 13 alternating red and white stripes and a blue canton with 13 five-point stars arranged in a circle.
Christopher Stress, Longswamp resident and Revolutionary War era expert, donated a Betsy Ross Flag to the township to temporarily fly for the celebrations. Stress portrayed a Revolutionary War soldier for the event.
The Brandywine Colonial Fife and Drum Corps of Topton opened the event with music from the American Revolution.
Throughout the event, attendees could catch a showing of the film “The Fries Rebellion,” a story of an armed tax revolt that took place on south eastern Pennsylvania in 1798-99.
Bill Meck, Mark Anderson and Stress provided historical presentations.
The Longswamp Township Historical Society presented a poster display of events that shaped Longswamp and the country, as well as hands-on tabletop exhibits.
Other activities included a children’s story and activity sponsored by Brandywine Community Library, master blacksmith demonstrations by PC Janusz Blacksmith and Stone Works, and rock painting for the township’s America250 Rock Garden.
While not officially open until Oct. 19, the Longswamp Historical Society’s new museum and 1941 Ready Company Caboose were open to the public.
Nonprofit organizations offer light food and beverages for sale. Christian Congregation Church had hot dogs, baked goods and beverages. Boy Scout Troop 575 had chili, corn bread and beverages. Brandywine Heights FFA had apple and peach pies a la mode.
A highlight of the event was a noon ceremony at the flagpoles. Township supervisor and America250 Committee member Mike Sacks welcomed everyone to the event.
He said that Longswamp Township was incorporated in 1761 before the Declaration of Independence was signed and Longswamp’s contributions in American history.
Sacks thanked his fellow supervisors, America250 Committee members, volunteers and the nonprofit organizations who took the time to help make the event happen.
Rep. David Maloney concluded the ceremony by thanking the Longswamp Township for holding the event. He presented the township with a new state and federal flag to fly at the park. A POW/MIA flag will be delivered to the township in support of House Bill 86 that allows this flag on commonwealth property statewide.
“Those who have been left behind deserve this small measure of remembrance and respect.”
The Longswamp Township America250 Committee would like to thank the Longswamp Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Don Hickman, vice chairman Mark Hilbert and Mike Sacks for supporting the event and giving the opportunity to celebrate 250 years of America together.
“Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to make this event a success. We hope this event will promote the planning of more America250 celebrations in other municipalities.”
View more photos from the event on the township Facebook page.
The committee are working on plans for small pop-up events in 2026 and incorporating America250 activities into the 8th Annual Swamp Fest scheduled for June 13, 2026, including a pyro musical firework display.
To join the America250 Committee or volunteer at an event, contact township office administrator Allison Fuller at 610-682-7399 ext. 129 or at afuller@longtwsp.net.