Members of the Palmerton UVO, led by Richard Nothstein, thanked the Palmerton Blue Bombers football players for their community effort at a small ceremony on Wednesday evening.

Following practice, Nothstein and several veterans personally thanked the team for its support with the Moving Wall memorial, and presented players with Moving Wall T-shirts. The team assisted in setting up and taking down the wall during its stay in the borough park in July.“It was very humbling being down there, surrounded by those veterans that gave it all for us. It was an honor to help them out and give back to the community,” Bombers captain Garrett Perschy said.Nothstein commended the team for an incredible job, and said that they were able to set up and take down the wall in record time.“It really shows what American youth is all about,” Nothstein said. “They’re givers. We don’t always give them the credit they deserve. What they did down there was a tremendous job. In fact, the people that brought the wall said it was the best group they had to unload. They did the quickest and best job taking it down. They set the record at 21 and a half minutes.”Head coach Chris Walkowiak was proud of his players and their drive to help the local community.“We have a great group of kids here at Palmerton, who are always willing to give back and do things whenever we need anything.“They’re the first ones there and the last to leave. Football teaches a lot about life lessons, and this is another lesson where we can use football to teach about real-world experiences.” The ceremony also included a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, with the team captains holding the flag that flew over the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville.“We aren’t 49er quarterbacks. We’re just little people that love our country, our community, and the people in it,” Nothstein said about the humble pledge presentation.Each player was called up to the front of the group to be given a Moving Flag T-shirt, and a personal thank you from the veterans and Nothstein.“It shows they care and respect us. They care about our football team. They help us, and we help them,” captain Jared Mooney said.