Finally, Palmerton has its own roll call of honor.

A sea of visitors, believed to be well over 1,000, swarmed the borough park on Sunday, Veterans Day, for the dedication of the Palmerton Veterans Memorial.The program began with welcome remarks from George Duell, Army Reserve Ambassador.Duell said that only a few short years ago, the memorial was a dream that has now become a reality.That was followed by singing of the national anthem.The Rev. Canon Doris Steinmetz Bray then gave the invocation.Steinmetz Bray noted that close to 4,000 men and women left the Palmerton area to fight for our freedom. Of those, 72 died, she said.We should honor our veterans with "solemn pride and heroism", Steinmetz Bray said.An introduction and welcome of guests followed.Among those introduced were Henry Desrosiers, Carbon County Director of Veterans Affairs; Col. Eric Hesse, Command Inspector General of New York; Palmerton Borough Councilman Richard Nothstein; Albert Kohler, chaplain, American Legion Post 269; Post Lieutenant Colonel Stacey Garrity, Batallion Commander of the 744th Military Police Batallion U.S. Army Reserve; and Captain Megan Machin, Company Commander of the U.S. Army Recruiting Company that supports the Palmerton Area.Also in attendance were Carbon County Commissioners Chairman Wayne Nothstein and Thomas Gerhard.It was then noted that state Sen. Pat Toomey, who could not be in attendance, offered his congratulations.Chris Olivia, mayor of Palmerton, remarked it was a "beautiful day in Downtown Palmerton."Olivia then gave special thanks to Richard and Darlene Nothstein; Ed Moyer, Commander, American Legion Post 269 of Palmerton; and Joe Uhnak, 1st Vice Commander, American Legion Post 269.He said it takes courage from our brave men and women to risk their lives, and added the least we can do is honor them.The 3,578 names on the memorial shows our nation continues to be the home of the brave, Olivia said.State Sen. David Argall complimented the borough on the memorial."Congratulations to all who had anything to do with this magnificent memorial," Argall said.Argall then noted that a piece of the Berlin Wall is buried inside the park.State Rep. Doyle Heffley, encouraged students to visit the memorial, and said this is where they would find true heroes.He then told those in attendance that when they lay their heads down on their pillows, to thank God for the freedoms we enjoy.Heffley then presented a resolution from Harrisburg to Lt. General Rhett Hernandez, Commanding General, U.S. Cyber Command.James Nathan Muir, sculptor of the "Some Gave All" Sculpture, thanked all those in attendance for taking the time to attend the event."I feel especially honored to have one of my sculptures in the center of it," Muir said. "This is symbolic of a battlefield situation; that's what's represented here."Musical selections were then performed by members of the elementary/junior high chorus.Command Sergeant Major Dan Dailey, Training and Doctrine Command, Command Sergeant Major, a Palmerton native, spoke of how great it was to be back in his hometown.Dailey then spoke of the U.S. Army Warrior Ethos, a part of the U.S. Soldier's Creed, which says to always place the mission first; to never accept defeat; to never quit; and to never leave a fallen soldier behind.The musical selection "Let Their Be Peace of Earth" followed. That was followed by the release of white peace doves.Hernandez said how humbled he was to be able to speak at the event, especially in front of his mother and family who were in attendance."What a great ceremony," Hernandez said. "What a way to remember all of our great veterans."Hernandez added, "I can't tell you all the memories I have of being in this park; none of them top being here today."The Palmerton Holiday Homecoming Chorus then performed "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Armed Forces Salute".Steve Vlossak, judge advocate of American Legion Post 269, then presented Moyer with a plaque from the Palmerton Veterans Memorial Committee."Ed was our leader, the guy got things done," Vlossak said. "Ed was always right there to help them; he went above and beyond what could ever be expected."Clearly surprised, Moyer then presented the Dedication of the Memorial.He then spoke of two specific instances: one, in which students from the 2011-11 Towamensing Elementary Student Council donated $93 to the memorial; and the other, where three elementary students from S.S. Palmer donated $150 they received in Christmas money from their grandmother, to be sent to a veteran. Those students were Tyler, Ryan and Derek King.Moyer added "those are just two small examples of the tremendous support we got for this project."He then thanked Richard Nothstein; Matt Lang, of Lang's Landscaping & Tree Service of Palmerton; Todd Wentz and Fireline Foundation; Craig Walters, of Walters Monument Company, of Summit Hill, as well as his wife, and the wives of the memorial committee members.Uhnak then gave the benediction, a prayer written by his son, Steven J. Uhnak.The Honor Guard then fired a 21 rifle salute, followed by Taps.With permission from the borough, the Palmerton United Veterans Organization which is comprised of the American Legion Post 269 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7134 decided to build the memorial in the park as a tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and to those who served to preserve our freedom.The memorial is located on a section of land 40 feet by 60 feet in size in the lower southwest corner of the park, where the present flagpole is situated, and includes a list of all veterans' names on granite monuments from all time periods of service.It includes 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.To qualify, veterans need not have seen action in wartime. Peacetime veterans will also be honored.The centerpiece is a sculpture entitled "Some Gave All," and depicts a gun and helmet. James N. Muir of Sedona, Ariz., sculpted the top piece of the sculpture, which was donated by goodwill Ambassador Richard Nothstein.It is surrounded by a wide walkway and standing stones with the names of veterans.Those who were killed in action are named on the base of the sculpture.The memorial consists of 24 slabs of granite, and contains the names of 180 veterans per slab engraved on the granite.Walters Monument Company, Summit Hill, did the engraving of all the names on the pillars, bricks and blocks. Matt Lang, of Lang's Landscaping &Tree Service, Palmerton, laid all the bricks and blocks.