George Burke, commander of American Legion Post 16, said the members had visited 13 cemeteries in two days. The previous week they had placed 2,400 flags on the graves of veterans, something they repeat for Veterans Day. He said this was the 27th annual program in memory of our fallen comrades, in memory of those who gave their lives, in memory of our fallen.

"Let us resolve by word and deed to honor those who fill a soldier's grave," Burke said.The honor guard, four Marines from Allentown, posted the colors.Due to the inclement weather, the program was moved indoors at Slatington Baptist Church.President of the Memorial Day Commission Dennis Ziegler said the POW-MIA chair was there for the missing men and women."It is a reminder to spare no effort to free any American in captivity," he said.The Rev. Jim Levan said an invocation is a calling on God that his saving grace may be known to all nations."We gather as safe as possible through words, songs and deeds to give our thanks," he said.Thomas L. Applebach, director of Lehigh County Office of Veterans Affairs, said, "It is incredible to see communities come together to honor our veterans' sacrifice in service to our nation."He wished any veterans present a good morning and thank you.He explained the Soldier's Cross displayed in the front of the church.Peter Van Buren attended the funeral service for a soldier whom he called Brian. There was a wooden box at the front of the room. The box had two holes in its top into which the United States flag and unit flag had been placed and a slot where the dead man's rifle now stood. A pair of boots stood on either side of the rifle with a helmet on top. The boots were dusty and dirty, fittingly not cleaned for the ritual.After the formal rites, a young man who did not know Brian well said he was the man's team leader. Brian was new. "He didn't have a nickname and he didn't spend much time with us. He played Xbox a lot. We miss him anyway because he was one of us," Applebach said.Sebastian Junger, a writer, spoke about his experience embedded with combat units in Afghanistan. Applebach used Junger's words to explain the difference between friendship and brotherhood."Friendship happens in society. Brotherhood has nothing to do with how you feel about the other person. It's a mutual agreement in a group that you will put the welfare of the group, you will put the safety of everyone in the group, above your own. You are saying 'I love these other people more than I love myself.' "Applebach said he enlisted at 17 when service was an option, not an obligation."The military provided us with the opportunity to learn, grow and see the world. But there was one more opportunity, one unique to military service and seldom spoken. That is the prospect of giving one's life for his country."By 2004 he was deployed to Iraq. "When we hit the ground and heard the guns I realized we were now brothers."For some veterans, injuries are obvious, but for those with mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, they are injured in ways we cannot see.They have physical and mental issues they must bear and overcome.The "homelessness" task force has housed 95 veterans and their families. Another 15 are living in transitional housing.Opportunities abound for those willing to help veterans as a mentor or to provide physical needs."We are here today as individuals, as community, as a nation to pause and offer our humble thanks to those who paid the ultimate price, the last full measure of devotion. To the warriors whose names are forever inscribed on the monument across the street, we honor their life and their sacrifice," Applebach said.