Construction on the Slatington Veterans Memorial continues to run smoothly toward the anticipated Veterans Day dedication finish line.

According to Veterans Memorial Committee Secretary Robert Settner, it is expected to be completed by theNov. 11 unveiling at the Memorial Park site on Second and Main streets at 11 a.m.“We had a tight schedule,” Settner said.The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony took place during the July Fourth Heritage Day celebration with construction starting in September.According to the Veterans’ Memorial Committee, “The dedication and unveiling ceremony will be a patriotic, but solemn event, replete with music, singing, taps and a 21-gun salute.”Special recognition for those killed in action will take place during the ceremony, where all the names listed on the memorial will be read aloud.Retired Marine Corps colonel and Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge James Anthony will address the crowd, while Saint John’s UCC Pastor Henry Distler will serve as master of ceremonies during the event.The 8-foot-long memorial centerpiece is composed of Barre granite imported from Barre, Vermont, and stands 4 feet high and weighs 5,000 pounds.The stone contains the engraved names of the 30 servicemen from the Northern Lehigh area who lost their lives in service of the country from the Civil to the Vietnam War.The foundation and pathways have been constructed with the fencing, memorial and bricks to be installed in the next two weeks.Four beds have been raised to hold the engraved fundraising bricks. More than 600 men and women who served in all branches of the military date back from as far as the Revolutionary War have been remember with an engraving. Two reflection benches in front of the memorial were added to the space with the POW-MIA and American Stars and Stripes flanking the flags of the seven branches of the armed services surrounding the engraved granite.Lehigh Valley contractors were used in the excavation, electrical, fencing and paving of the memorial site.The Slatington Woman’s Club will plant the annual flowers and create the landscaping directly in front of the statue.The monument was funded in its entirety by private memorial donations and sale of remembrance bricks. The money raised reached $50,000. Stettner said the final cost is estimated at $65,000.“Bricks will always be for sale,” he said.“We have been pleasantly surprised by the response from the community. The biggest chunk of money has been raised from the bricks,” he said.Brick engravings are available and applications can be found at the local municipal buildings in Slatington, Walnutport and Washington Township.In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside the historical St. John’s UCC Church directly across the alley. The Slatington American Legion Post 16 will host attendees with light refreshments and fellowship following the ceremony at 510 Main St.Questions regarding the memorial and dedication can be directed to Robert Stettner, Slatington Veterans Memorial Secretary at 610-554-4099 or by email at

stettner@ptd.net.