American Legion Post 16, Slatington, visited nine cemeteries on Sunday timed so the congregations could join the ceremony. Monday there were three more programs and then a parade formed at the post home followed by aprogram at the Union Cemetery for Memorial Day.

At the Seventh Street Cemetery, part of the Assumption BVM Catholic Church, Dennis Ziegler, chairman of the Memorial Day committee, said, "Again our nation has assembled to honor its heroic dead. A thousand battles of land and sea and air echo the glory of their valiant deeds. Under the quiet sod or beneath the murmuring waves their bodies sleep in peace. When we recall the things they did, the hero hosts seem mighty in our midst."Accompanying the Legion are the Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Riders. The post placed 2,500 flags on the graves of departed veterans at the cemeteries they visit."When peril threatened and their country called, with what divine self-sacrifice they left their paths of peace to spring to arms, to make their breasts a barricade against the nation's foes. No sorrow for the loved ones left behind could dim the purpose in their souls," said Ziegler at Fairview Cemetery.The rifle squad fired a salute with Gordon Giannotti as the squad leader, and Scott Schaeffer and Jack Ligenza played taps to complete each program. The buglers are also part of the Funeral Honor Guard that will participate in veterans' services.At Friedens United Church of Christ the Rev. Lunnett Hilliard read the 23rd Psalm. She said it provides words of comfort that have gone with soldiers around the world. It reads in part, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," and ends with the promise that "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."She said she focuses on the meaning of Memorial Day during the church service. Hilliard was to be the speaker at the Slatedale Memorial Day program the next day.Ziegler said, "Help us to continue in honoring the values they have bestowed upon our great nation: loyalty, respect, brotherhood, duty, service honor and trust."At United Presbyterian Church he said, "On this Memorial Day let us pledge ourselves anew to patriotic service. Let us make ourselves the friend and brother, son and father, daughter and mother of those who will not see their own again in mortal flesh."Consecrate yourselves with us to emulate their sacred service that those who rest in heroes graves may not have died in vain."