The "Star Spangled Banner," sung by the audience and led by the Quartet of 5, opened the dedication ceremony of the Slatington Memorial Park on Sunday.

Dan Stevens, president of the Northern Lehigh Future Focus, introduced Mayor Walter Niedermeyer of Slatington, who welcomed the approximately 70 people who attended the program.He thanked the borough work crew for caring for the property where the old Slatington High School stood and to Leo Livengood for doing the excavating. It took a lot of dirt moving to create the level area with the gazebo and performance area. A water fountain is to be added to the amenities in the spring.Lehigh County Commissioner Dan McCarthy brought a citation from Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham and the county commissioners. He said he was to read it but since it was long, he decided to just present it to Mayor Niedermeyer.He said Slatington is an integral part of Lehigh County and former commissioners Marc Grammes and Sterling Raber as well as present commissioner Tom Creighton came from the area.Community is important, not bricks and park benches. Community is you, said McCarthy. A derelict building was torn down and something beautiful is here for your enjoyment. The area has a better sense of community because it is older and more settled than other parts of the county. People have better connections with their neighbors, he said.Dennis DeMara, of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said he had been told to keep it short. It is a partnership program with $40,000 awarded by DCNR. The park is a wonderful amenity for Slatington along with the Slate Heritage Trail and the recently dedicated trail head. It's not just another parks and recreation location.DeMara said when he passes the trailhead the parking lot is full and the community will benefit.Anne Baum of the Lehigh Valley Chamber Foundation said the foundation is dedicated to Main Streets throughout the Lehigh Valley and provided a grant. It was its pleasure to be a part of this beautiful project, she said.Stevens said there is much more that he'd like to add including thanks to the borough and foundation. Still to come from the county are bike racks and trash receptacles.He recognized DCNR and the Department of Community and Economic Development. It was a $10,000 grant from the latter provided by Rep. Julie Harhart and the late Sen. Jim Rhoades that got the planning started.The Slatington High School classes that donated the eight Victorian-style benches were acknowledged. Future Focus and MTS landscaping contributed and had Joe Puskus, the electrician, not finished his work, there would be no musical program for the day or lights in the gazebo.Dale Fruedenberger and Marilyn and Everett Kaul were noted for their contributions.The "Alma Mater," led by the Quartet of 5, was sung. Stevens said the people deserved a round of applause because few schools have so many people who remember the words to their "alma mater."Representatives of each class that donated benches plus the officials who participated in the ceremony were invited to help cut the ribbon. The actual cut was made by Dolores Rowlands, Class of 1945.Stevens said the school opened in 1917 and until it closed in 1982 many thousands of students walked the halls. "It was your school. Enjoy the food, fellowship and music," he said. "It was razed in 2001 and today it has a rebirth."Niedermeyer said it is the original flagpole that still stands. Rene Garritty, a teacher from Allentown, plants and maintains flowers around its base.Muriel Williams, a former business manager at the school, said she was there for 35 years, beginning under Superintendent J. W. Snyder, and continued through the six who followed him.One died in the middle of the year and Williams was appointed interim superintendent for the remainder of the year. She is now an honorary member of the Retired School Superintendents of Pennsylvania. She was born in Slatington and graduated as a member of the Class of 1936.Williams said it was a pleasure to be there and help dedicate the park. She now lives in Kunkletown.The Quartet of 5 provided music for an hour following the program. Yearbooks and diplomas were among the items on display.Freudenberger said the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor is pleased to have been part of the project. It helped with the concept plan and provided funding from the MAC (municipal assistance) program as well as helping write other grant applications.He said he was excited to see it all come together.