Under an afternoon sun beaming much like the pride in his voice, Robert "Ski" Siesputowski helped unveil a plaque honoring waterborne veterans Sunday in Lansford's Kennedy Park.

A Summit Hill resident and founder of the Carbon County Navy Club, Siesputowski, along with other club members, helped raise funds for the plaque, which came from Delrose Awards in Lansford.While many plaques and monuments honor veterans of a specific war, Siesputowski said this offering was different because it's also meant to remember those men and women who served during times of peace."This is for the people, the men and women, brothers and sisters," he said. "They took the oath and saw it through. Whether it be during battle or during peacetime, they were there to protect and serve. For this and this alone we honor them."Walters Monument Company of Summit Hill provided stone for the plaque, with the whole project costing around $1,000.Over a dozen residents, veterans and government officials turned out to help remember the sacrifices of those who served in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and wartime Merchant Marine.Carbon County Veterans Affairs Director Henry Desrosiers said plaques like the one in Kennedy Park and all efforts to honor veterans are paramount to national security."How do we expect future men and women to serve if we don't appreciate the defenders who came before us?" he said.Representing state Sen. John Yudichak, Brad Hurley said growing up in a military family gave him an appreciation for all veterans."Guys like Ski don't come around often," he said, "and when they do we need to appreciate what they do for the community and the men and women who serve."Also on hand Sunday, state Rep. Doyle Heffley told the crowd, "we're all forever indebted to our waterborne veterans for protecting our way of life."If Lansford Mayor James Romankow had joined the military, he would have been a Marine just like his "pop-pop."However, Romankow joked that when a recruiter called him in 1995, his 210-pound frame didn't make him an ideal candidate."We're really honored to have this plaque join the vast amount of monuments here in Kennedy Park," Romankow said.Members of the Nesquehoning VFW and Panther Valley JROTC also participated in Sunday's ceremony.The plaque in Lansford was dedicated a year after Siesputowski helped to put one in Summit Hill's Ludlow Park."I'm stubborn," he said. "I know for a fact this won't be the last one I do."