Good Shepherd United Church of Christ honored first responders and military personnel Sunday.

People who attended the service were welcomed in the driveway by members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Catasauqua Legion Riders.The Patriot Guard is a unit that will attend veterans' funerals, their departure or homecoming if a family requests them.Lining the drive were Dan Drayer, Roger Drayer, Ed Slaski, Frank Johnson, Pat Costa Jr., Dick Diebert, Steve Rennig and Michael Solga.The prelude was "Song for the Unsung Hero."The Rev. James Robison prayed with the congregation: "Gracious God, we gather to honor and remember all those who are or have been first responders as well as those on active duty in the military and our veterans present and past. We ask for the healing of those who have been wounded in body and soul, wounds both visible and invisible. We pray for those who have returned and those who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, for those who served in Vietnam, Korea and World War II and live with injured bodies and traumatized spirits that they may receive your solace and healing. We pray for fathers and mothers, spouses and children whose loved ones have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving in far off lands or here on native soil.He recognized the following units: First Responders (firefighters, police, EMTs) and those in or who were in active service, those who have been or are Boy and Girl Scouts, and then those who are parents and family members of those standing. "We welcome one another."Twenty children came forward for the children's message, which was about the flag. They knew to not let it touch the ground. With some help from Robison they learned that red was for sacrifice from both first responders and military. White is for the innocence that can create a land of peace and blue is for faithfulness and fidelity.Pipe Major James Ruhf of Bethlehem played "Amazing Grace" twice.Then people could pass the Alms Basin and leave a donation if they wished, and follow Ruhf outdoors to the Field of Valor for the second half of the program.A flag arch was created by the Slatedale and Slatington fire companies.Outside the Allen O. Delke Post 16, American Legion, Slatington, posted the colors with Gordon Giannotti and Bernie Dugan as honor guard, Martin Fritz posting the American flag and Robert Churetta posting the American Legion flag.Boy and Girl Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance.One of two speakers from the Memorial Day service in Slatedale was present.Austin Arnold said that first responders and military make us all feel safe. "We owe them endless gratitude because they make sacrifices every day because they want to help other people. I hope you realize how much we are impacted by these heroes' faithful service," he said."We pray that you might be a blessing to the people and that there will be war no more," prayed Robison.The Honor Guard of American Legion Post 269 and VFW Post 7134 fired a 21-gun salute and taps was played. "Reveille" was played because even death was not allowed to have the last word.These flags in the Field of Valor are a memorial for faithful service. The memorials went back as far as the Revolutionary War.Robison asked people to let the Youth Fellowship wearing light blue shirts retrieve the flags and roll them as a sign of dignity.Ruhf said the bagpipes are a tradition for military, police and firefighter events just as "Amazing Grace," is frequently played.