Count the Aquashicola Fire Department among the latest organizations to support the eventual Veterans' Memorial in Palmerton.

Members of the fire company met with representatives of the Palmerton United Veterans Organization outside the fire company on Wednesday to announce it will donate the proceeds from its most recent two can trailer redemptions.Larry Arner, a member of the fire department's board of trustees, said each year, the fire company asks residents to assist with its aluminum can donations program to help fund various projects.Arner said members of the department overwhelmingly voted to support the new Veterans' Memorial by donating the proceeds from its most recent two can trailer redemptions. The cans are expected to yield between $1,500 to $2,000 that will be donated to the Veterans' Memorial, he said."We're a community-involved organization," Arner said. "Our philosophy is to give back to the community the way they give back to us."Arner said the fire company routinely fills the trailer with cans about three to four times a year. In the past, he said the fire company would use the proceeds from the cans collected toward personal firefighting gear, various firefighting equipment and rescue equipment, and training."This was never done before," he said. "We thought it was a wonderful cause to support our veterans for all they've done for our country."In the meantime, Arner encouraged citizens to continue to drop off their aluminum cans at the fire department.The fire company began its recycling initiative on Jan. 24, 1989, Arner said. Since then, he said about 2.5 million cans have been donated.Ed Moyer, Commander, American Legion Post 269, Palmerton, said the PUVO was especially grateful to the fire company for its graciousness."It's the generosity of individuals like this that's going to make our memorial a reality," Moyer said. "We'd also like to thank the people who donated at our bucket brigade, the Carbon County Fair and [Lehighton's] Bike Night."The PUVO and the borough plan to build the memorial to honor all of the Palmerton area servicemen and women as a tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and to those who served to preserve our freedom.The memorial will include names of veterans from the American Revolutionary Era to the present - a span of over 230 years - who either entered the service while a resident of the Palmerton area, or who have lived in the area at least half of their adult life.A series of meetings produced a draft drawing. The centerpiece was donated by Richard Nothstein, a borough council member who spearheaded the project.The centerpiece is a sculpture entitled "Some Gave All," and depicts a gun and helmet. The sculpture will be surrounded by a wide walkway and standing stones with the names of veterans.Those who were killed in action will be named on the base of the sculpture. To qualify, veterans need not have seen action. Peacetime veterans will also be honored.The memorial will be located on a section of land 35-by-40 feet in size in the lower southwest corner of the borough park, where the present flagpole is situated, and will include a list of all veterans' names on granite monuments from all time periods of service.The sculpture - one of 10 that were created - will consist of between 30 and 40 slabs of granite with the names of about 200 veterans per slab engraved on the granite. It was made by James N. Mur of Sedona, Ariz., who sent a plaque to Nothstein that told about the sculpture's beginnings. A poem by Major Michael Davis O'Donnell is on one side of the base that was written for soldiers killed in a battle in Vietnam.The memorial will be dedicated on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, to mark the 100-year celebration of the borough.To date, about $50,000 of the expected $123,000 cost has been raised. An additional $10,000 in grant money could also be received after the Corbett administration approved $48 million for local projects sought by specific lawmakers popularly known as WAMs, for "walking around money."Opportunities to say thank you to veterans can be by a listing on the granite wall individual or family name for a $500 donation, and a corporate or business name for $750.Walkway opportunities include a 10-by-14 inch granite block for $200, and can include a military emblem; a 6-inch by 9-inch paver for $50; or a 4-inch by 8-inch paver for $40.The necessary information should include the individual's name, branch of service, dates of service, rank, date of birth, residence at time of induction, and years living in the Palmerton area.The information should be sent to the Palmerton Legion, P.O. Box 84 Palmerton, Pa 18071, or Palmerton VFW, 2020 Forest Inn Road, Palmerton, Pa 18071.Moyer said information about the memorial can be viewed on Facebook, under Palmerton Area Servicemen and Women Memorial, and on palmertonuvo.org.Anyone with questions, or those who want to submit the information, may contact Joe Uhnak at (610) 826-2902, or

onlyelvs@ptd.net, Moyer at (610) 504-6680, or

tecked@ptd.net, or Nothstein at (610) 826-7339, or

dnd1@ptd.net.