Their supreme acts of courage helped pave the way for the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.

Those who attended the annual Palmerton Memorial Day Parade in Palmerton on Monday did their best to pay homage to the valiant men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country.The Palmerton United Veteran's Organization, composed of the American Legion Post 269 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7134, once again sponsored the parade, which formed at Dynamite Woodworking, at Second and Delaware Avenue, where it continued on to Fifth and Delaware. From there, it turned left at the former IGA Golden Key Market to Franklin Avenue, and then back to the park, where it disbanded.Parade participants included Brianna Uhnak, a fourth-grade student who served as Miss Poppy; Nathan Taylor, a seventh grade student at Palmerton Junior High School who served as Legion Mascot; Palmerton Boy Scout Troop 41, Palmerton Cub Pack 41; Palmerton Boy Scout Troop 20; Palmerton Girl Scout Service Unit; Palmerton Fire Department; Aquashicola Fire Department; Bowmanstown Fire Department; Palmerton Police Department; and the Palmerton Ambulance.Nathan Taylor, the Legion Mascot, placed a wreath at the Veterans Memorial in the borough park, while Brianna Uhnak placed a wreath at the monument on Delaware Avenue in honor of all veterans.Immediately after the parade, services were held in the borough park.Steve Vlossak, master of ceremonies, said it was important to recognize the Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.Mayor Chris Olivia noted that Memorial Day began 145 years ago when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. After World War I, it became a day to honor all Americans who died fighting in any war, Oliva said.Olivia said "it is special for our citizens to set aside this one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect, and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.""They were real people ... sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters," Olivia said. "Let us remember the courage of all who have served and sacrificed on our behalf."Vlossak then asked each veteran in attendance from the U.S. Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Army to come front to receive a pin for their service.Ed Moyer, Commander of American Legion Post 269, took a moment to talk about the Veterans Memorial, at which time he noted that names submitted for placement on the memorial wall, bricks and blocks were not ready for inclusion due to the large amount of names that were received. However, Moyer said he promised that the names would be ready by Veterans Day.Moyer then presented certificates of appreciation to Colby Moyer and Nathaniel Starrett, of Hazleton Squadron 203 of the Civil Air Patrol.Laurel Seemiller, a senior at Palmerton Area High School, read the Gettysburg Address.Vlossak then introduced Goodwill Ambassador Richard Nothstein, who served as guest speaker."There's so much that I could say about this speaker," Vlossak said. "He has so many accomplishments that we would be here well into the afternoon."Vlossak said Nothstein was asked to speak "because of his involvement with the veterans."A member of Palmerton Borough Council, Nothstein said it was "a humbling experience for me to be here."Nothstein then thanked "the veterans here in Palmerton for having faith in me to be able to carry this out."He then focused his speech on the poem on the "Some Gave All" sculpture by Major Michael Davis O'Donnell located on one side of the base that was written for soldiers killed in a battle in Vietnam."If you are able, save them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."Major O'Donnell was listed as MIA while piloting a helicopter on a mission in Cambodia on March 24, 1970. His remains were recovered and interred at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 16, 2001. Nothstein then asked the audience to take a moment and put themselves in the shoes of those who gave all, and to think of all we've been fortunate to have since the age of 21.Nothstein told the audience that if one of our parents would have been killed in action, we wouldn't be here, and asked them to imagine never being able to experience the joys of falling in love, being a parent or grandparent.He then thanked all those who served our country, as well as their families, and encouraged the crowd to "express our thanks to our veterans."Monica Handwerk and Lydia Anthony, graduates of Palmerton Area High School's Class of 2012, sang a rendition of "In Flanders Fields".Harry Brown, a member of the PUVO, read "I Am Your Flag".Joe Uhnak, First Vice Commander, Palmerton American Legion, then read off a list of the 50 veterans buried at the two funeral homes in Palmerton since last Memorial Day.Uhnak then gave the benediction.Vlossak then expressed his thanks to those in attendance."We'd like to thank all of you for showing up," he said. "We really appreciate seeing people when we march in the parade."Vlossak also thanked all the veterans, including those in attendance; those who participated in the parade and services; Susan and Larry Arner; and Pencor Services for hanging the big flag on their new building along Delaware Avenue.