When the Palmerton Veterans Memorial Committee received an American flag from Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey, the Army's highest-ranking enlisted soldier, it immediately began thinking of a place to fly it.

The organization learned the cost of a flagpole itself would be $12,000, not counting concrete work and landscaping.On Wednesday, however, the price tag got a little cheaper thanks to a $3,000 grant from the PennEast Pipeline Company.The grant is one of many the company, which is planning a natural gas pipeline passing through Carbon County, has awarded to communities along the proposed route.According to Ed Moyer, Veterans Memorial Committee president, a flag, similar to one received from Dailey, was put up Friday at the entrance to Palmerton coming from Route 248.Dailey's flag will only be flown during special occasions, Moyer said, to keep it in pristine condition."This grant is really going to help us with the final construction, landscaping and whatever else is needed out at the site," Moyer said Wednesday during a check passing ceremony at the Palmerton Area Veterans Memorial in the borough park. "We're grateful because we had submitted numerous grant applications to various groups and organizations and never heard anything back. The flag is one more way we can honor our fallen and living veterans."Pam Witmer, vice president of government affairs for UGI Energy Services, said the PennEast Community Connector grant program has provided more than $400,000 to organizations in communities along the proposed route."When we're going through the grant applications, we look primarily for our first responder organizations, and we are always happy to contribute to our veterans groups as well," Witmer said.The veterans group had initially contacted state Rep. Doyle Heffley for help with funding for the flagpole and Heffley directed them to the PennEast program."This veterans committee continues to find new ways to honor the men and women who have served our country, both those no longer with us and those surviving," Heffley said. "Given everything in the news regarding the national anthem protests, it makes me proud to say that when you come into Palmerton, with this flag and with the beautiful veterans memorial in the park, people know where our values are as far as supporting veterans."An initial lighting issue at the flagpole has been corrected, Moyer said, and it is starting to draw positive reviews.Palmerton is hosting the Carbon County Veterans Parade on Nov. 6. On the same day, the Palmerton veterans committee will be hosting a flag raising and dedication ceremony at the new flagpole."Sgt. Dailey will be here and we will be raising his flag that day," Moyer said. "It's going to be a very special day in Palmerton."The 20-foot by 38-foot American flag presented by Dailey was flown over Saddam Hussein's Palace in Iraq after his capture.The committee is still raising funds for the flagpole and related work.Contributions can be made to the Palmerton Area Veterans Memorial Committee at 2020 Forest Inn Road, Palmerton, PA, 18071.