It's a day to show support for those who have and continue to serve ourcountry.

The annual Palmerton Memorial Day Parade will be sponsored by the Palmerton United Veteran's Organization, which is comprised of American Legion Post 269, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7134.The parade will form in the area of Second and Delaware Avenue and begin at 10 a.m.From there, it will proceed down Delaware to Fifth Street, where it will turn left on Fifth Street to Franklin Avenue, and then back to the borough park for the annual Memorial Day services.The parade participants will include local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, fire companies, emergency services, and the Palmerton Booster Club. The color guard will be members of Palmerton UVO.Throughout the parade, the veterans will stop at the Veterans Memorial in the borough park, as well as the monument in the front of borough hall, to place wreaths in honor of all veterans, both living and deceased.Serving as this year's Miss Poppy will be Ashley Stetler, 8, a third-grader who is home-schooled. She is the daughter of David and Tammy Stetler of Palmerton.The Legion Mascot is Kameron Behler, 7, a second-grader at S.S. Palmer Elementary. He is the son of Jason and Michelle Behler of Palmerton.They will accompany the veterans in carrying the wreaths.Susie Arner, event chair, said the Palmerton Marching band will be joining in the parade, as well as providing musical entertainment during the program."For the second year in a row, the Palmerton Booster Club will be marching in the parade to show their support of this fine community and those who have served our country," Arner said. "The parade committee challenges other groups, youth or adult, to step up and join the parade."Parking will not be allowed on Delaware Avenue from Second Street East to Fifth Street, on Fifth Street between Delaware Avenue, and on the 400 block of Franklin Avenue from Fifth Street to Fourth Street from 8-11 a.m.Services will be held immediately after the parade in the borough park.Ed Moyer, commander of the American Legion Post 269 of Palmerton, said guest speakers will be Steve Vlossak and Jim Christman."Our parade and service in the park will stick pretty close to what we have been doing in other years," Moyer said. "As other years, we will try to recognize veterans past and present."In case of rain, the services will be inside the S.S. Palmer Elementary School adjacent to the park. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will not be held, and the services would be moved to the S.S. Palmer gymnasium at 11 a.m.Arner said, "No matter what sport, civic group, or school you belong to, you have members who can be organized to walk and show their patriotism. Thank you to the scout groups and fire and EMS groups that participate annually.""As usual, a special feature of the day is the outstanding Veterans monument that will provide many a chance to reflect on the purpose of the day when they visit there," she said.Parking will not be allowed on Delaware Avenue from Second Street East to Fifth Street, on Fifth Street between Delaware Avenue, and on the 400 block of Franklin Avenue from Fifth Street to Fourth Street from 8-11 a.m.Any groups or individuals interested in being part of the parade should contact Moyer at 610-504-6680 for more details.Those who would like to obtain a poppy may do so at the services, as Scouts in attendance will circulate with poppies and accept donations for them.The proceeds will go to the Palmerton American Legion for their projects.Arner said all veterans are welcome to march in the parade.Visitors are reminded to bring their chairs.