Memorial Day events began Monday at the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Memorial on Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard in Lehighton. Then the services moved on to the Colonel Weiss monument in the Lehighton Park, the VFW in Lehighton, Mallard Markets, the Gnadden Huetton Hospital, the Lehighton Fire Department Memorial, the Catholic Cemetery, and finally the Lehighton Cemetery.

In front of a crowd over 100 spectators, Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Hennsinger of the 213 Regional Support Group of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard said, "It is all about the honor."Mayor Thomas Mase asked residents to remember and support the veterans. "As I remember walking the same parade route as a young boy, as a veteran myself, a father of a veteran, and a grandfather of a veteran, I am proud of the veterans that stood ready to defend the freedoms we enjoy and the threats that called upon their services."Hennsinger said, "Today I ask you to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice, and those that sacrifice daily by continuing to serve."Hennsinger said, "The Pennsylvania National Guard Motto: Always Ready, Always. This has been true since the inception of the citizen army dating back to the founding members such as Benjamin Franklin."Hennsinger commented, "For 14 years we have been a weary nation. That does not excuse us from being Americans and being proud of our freedoms, It's about honor, it's all about honor."As children scattered flowers on the graves of the soldiers in the Lehighton Cemetery, the Lehighton UVO Commander K.M. "Spike" Long said the flowers being spread have all been donated from the students of the Lehighton Middle School. "These students began a project called Operation Never Forget, all of the participating middle school students brought in loose change, pocket change, or donated money that allowed them to pay for the flowers for these Memorial Day services to honor our deceased brothers in arms."The project also provided a bouquet of flowers that were laid on a grave of a fallen Lehighton soldier who is buried in Cambridge, England.The bell tolled 17 times, symbolizing the 17 conflicts in which our servicemen have fought. All told, some 1,275,888 service men and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives to defend our freedoms and our nation.Harry Wynn III gave final remarks, calling upon the local veterans in the crowd to come forward and be recognized.To tremendous applause some 30 veterans from the crowd appeared and joined the veterans at the podium.