Several fundraisers are in the works to continue to raise money to construct a veterans' memorial in Palmerton.

The Palmerton United Veteran's Organization and the borough plan to build the memorial in the borough park 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.Over 3,500 names will be put onto the granite stones, according to Joe Uhnak, first vice commander, who said $138,000 has been raised for the monument. About another $15,000 to $20,000 in donations is still needed, he said.Donations are still being accepted, said Uhnak, who added that a bake sale will be held at the Country Harvest Family Market at 572 Delaware Ave., Palmerton from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 20. Anyone interested in baking for the sale is asked to bring their baked goods between 8-9 a.m. that morning.A recent bridge collection raised $1,900, said Uhnak, who wanted to thank everyone who stopped to donate. Another bridge collection will be held in early-September, he said.In addition, T-shirts and sweatshirts are available for purchase at the Country Harvest Family Market, or by calling Uhnak at (610) 826-2902.Blue and red in color, the T-shirts cost $18. Also blue and red in color, the hooded sweatshirts cost $28, while Crews sweatshirts are $23.The shirts read Palmerton Veterans Memorial across the top, and "Some Gave All" across the bottom. On the front is a picture of the statue that will be on the veterans memorial."This has been a long journey for all of us," Uhnak said. "We feel so good that we're nearing the end of the first phase of this journey."Recently, a granite block was purchased for the statue to be placed on, and the PUVO plans to illuminate the statue in the evening, and fencing will be installed around the entire memorial. There will be a gate that will be open at all times for anyone who wants to visit when the park is open.The memorial will be located on a section of land 40 feet by 60 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.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. It was donated by Richard Nothstein, a borough council member who spearheaded the project.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.The memorial will consist of 24 slabs of granite and contain the names of 180 veterans per slab engraved on the granite. It was made by James N. Mur of Sedona, Ariz., and purchased by Nothstein.Opportunities to say thank you to veterans can be made by listing the names of individuals on the bricks or granite block. Personal or family donations of $500, or a corporate or business name for $750 will be placed on the Founding Fathers stone. Walkway opportunities include a 10-inch 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.May 31 is the deadline for names to be recognized on the bricks and pavers for the walkway. Anyone who submits information after May 31 will be placed on the memorial at a later date.The deadline to submit names to be put on the granite stones is today. Names received as of today will be on the memorial for the dedication ceremony. Those received after today will be placed on the memorial for next year's Memorial Day celebration.A groundbreaking ceremony for the memorial will be held Saturday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. with a rain date of Saturday, Aug. 18.The dedication for the memorial will be held on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, from noon to 2 p.m. Then, at 2 p.m., Palmerton will host the Carbon County Veterans Day Parade.The necessary information for names to be placed on the memorial 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. It should be sent to the Palmerton Legion, P.O. Box 84, Palmerton, PA 18071, or Palmerton VFW, 2020 Forest Inn Road, Palmerton, PA 18071.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 Ed Moyer at (610) 504-6680 or

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

dnd1@ptd.net; or Uhnak at

onlyelvs@ptd.net.