An organization responsible for the creation of a veterans memorial in Palmerton has garnered some lofty praise.

Borough Council on Thursday unanimously agreed to adopt a resolution honoring the Palmerton Area Veterans' Memorial Committee.Council President Terry Costenbader read the resolution "honoring citizens who take an interest in the borough and who, through their extra efforts, add something special for everyone to enjoy.""During 2011 and 2012, this Committee spent untold hours organizing the fundraising and construction of a veterans memorial in the borough park," Costenbader said. "This Committee helped bring together many organizations and people to complete this beautiful memorial for community members who have selflessly contributed their services to our country. The Palmerton Borough Council commends the Palmerton Area Veteran's Memorial Committee for their time and efforts, and for helping to make Palmerton "A Nice Place to Live"."Ed Moyer, commander, American Legion Post 269 of Palmerton, graciously accepted the award on behalf of the committee, which had nine members in attendance.Costenbader then thanked the committee for its efforts."I'd like to thank you for everything you guys have done," Costenbader said. "I really appreciate it."Afterward, Moyer said "it was an honor to be recognized by the borough for our job we've done.""It's really a pleasure for us to do this for the borough, and we thank the council for their support," Moyer said. "I believe the servicemen and women deserve this."Joe Uhnak, first vice commander, added "it's nice of them to recognize us.""We all worked together on this; the guys worked together real well," Uhnak said. "It's the people in this community that made this memorial."The committee also noted the contributions of Councilman Richard Nothstein for all his assistance with the memorial.The memorial - located on a section of land 40 feet by 60 feet in size in the lower southwest corner of the park - was dedicated on Veterans Day - 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.