Flag Raising Ceremony Recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day
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On August 31, 2026 SOS Berks once again partnered with the City of Reading to host the 3rd Annual International Overdose Awareness Day flag raising ceremony in City Park. About 30 people gathered for the event to remember without stigma the many lives lost in Berks County to overdose.
Prior to raising the flag, state, local and county officials addressed the crowd, many emphasizing the importance of ending stigma. Several speakers noted that a recent decrease in overdose deaths has inspired a sense of hope, but they maintained that more work needs to be done to eliminate overdoses.
Speakers included Pastor Thomas Scornavacchi; COCA Community Program Specialist Yvonne Stroman, PA State Sen. Judy Schwank, Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera, City of Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, St. Luke’s University Hospital Network Addiction Fellowship Doctor William Santoro, and SOS Berks member Maureen Rathman.
The event began with a invocation by Pastor Scornavacchi, who spoke of looking forward to a day when no one dies of overdose.
“May the flag serve as a vibrant beacon of hope, declaring to the world that recovery is real, transformation is possible and that no one needs to die from overdose,” Scornavacchi said.
PA Sen. Judy Schwank also spoke, noting that overdose deaths have been declining both nationally and across Pennsylvania. She cited a recent press release from the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs that stated overdose deaths had declined by nearly 30 percent since 2024. She credited that decline to a proactive approach by the state, as well as to programs supported through opioid settlement funds. But she also pointed to the work being done by the many individuals who support people in treatment and recovery.
“It’s remarkable the difference that we, that you have made: those in the field who are doing the work, and citizens and family members who are supporting loved ones with this disease,” Sen. Schwank said.
Dr. William Santoro, a member of SOS Berks and a doctor of addiction medicine at St. Luke’s University Hospital Network Addiction Fellowship, also mentioned the decline in overdose deaths. And he too credited the many people and communities working together to fight the opioid crisis.
“The decline (in overdose deaths) didn’t happen by chance,” Santoro said. “It happened because communities invested in prevention, treatment, naloxone, recovery support and because people refused to give up.”
He asked elected officials to continue to invest in services that support prevention, treatment and recovery of substance use disorder.
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera, who co-chair’s the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition, reminded attendees that “overdose does not discriminate, and neither should our compassion.” He said monthly reports on county overdose deaths include people of all ages, “from 18 to 90, and from every part of the county.”
City of Reading Mayor Eddie Morán presented a proclamation recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day, and spoke candidly of his own recovery and of losing a loved one to overdose.
The flag was raised by SOS Berks member Maureen Rathman, who lost her son to overdose.
“Grief is lifelong process, but just like recovery, there are tools to help along this path,” she said, mentioning the group Berks GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing), of which she is a member.
This marks the 3nd year that SOS Berks has joined forces with the City of Reading to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day with a flag-raising ceremony. International Overdose Awareness Day takes place yearly on August 31, and is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
The Overdose Awareness Day flag will fly for 7 days following the ceremony, in honor of those who have lost their lives to an overdose.
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Photos from the Flag Raising
Photos (top to bottom): Members of SOS Berks stand with City, County and State officials after the ceremony; the crowd watches the flag being raised; Marlene Rathman raises the flag; Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera speaks; Dr. William Santoro addresses the crowd; State Sen. Judy Schwank at the podium; City of Reading Mayor Eddie Moran holds an International Overdose Awareness Day proclamation; a statement of significance is posted at City Park; COCA Community Program Specialist Yvonne Stroman served as emcee; Pastor Tom Scornavacchi offers an invocation.