The rain drops interfered with the parade in Palmerton on Memorial Day, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended the service at S.S. Palmer Elementary School.

The Palmerton Area High School marching band played a selection of patriotic songs as the flag twirlers added a splash of red, white and blue to the music. Master of Ceremony Steve Vlossak, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, followed with an opening speech and the placing of wreaths by Shannon Dougherty, who was named Miss Poppy, and Hunter Sell, this year’s Legion Mascot.Palmerton Mayor Christopher Olivia addressed the crowd seated on bleachers in the gymnasium and chairs of its floor. Olivia said, “Your presence here today and that of the people gathering all across America is a tribute to those lost troops and to their families. It is a way to say we remember. From the soldiers who shivered and starved through the winter at Valley Forge to the doughboys crouched in the muddy trenches of France to the platoon who patrolled the hazy jungles of Vietnam and the young man or woman patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan, we remember and honor them all. Thank you for joining us today.”Palmerton-native and Vietnam veteran Ray Carazo served as the featured speaker.Eight veterans received a gift from Quilts of Valor.Janet Starner told the gathering that the Quilts of Valor Foundation is a volunteer group of 10,000 quilters across the nation. Since its beginning in 2003, the quilters have made 159,201 quilts for veterans. The quilts given during the service were created by a local group that meet at the Quilted Crow in Palmerton.“It is our profound hope that these quilts will serve to remind each awardee and others that your sacrifices have not been forgotten,” she said.Starner said the many colors, shapes and fabrics of the top layer represent the diverse people in the military and the community. The middle layer holds the batting and represents their hope the “the quilt will bring comfort, peace and healing to the individual who receives it,” she said. The backing layer provides the support, the strength of the quilt. It represents the strength of the recipients, the support of their families and the community and nation.The recipients:• Edward Baransky – U.S. Marine Corps from 1963 to 1967 during the Vietnam War. Received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor• Willard Dunbar – U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1958. Stationed in Germany, France and Tripoli. Received the Good Conduct medal and the Cold War medal• Rev. Edward McElduff – U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. Served in World War II in the Pacific and European Theatres. Wounded twice and awarded the Purple Heart.• Joseph Vargo – U.S. Army from 1953-1955 in Korea. Received the Good Conduct, United Nations and the Korean medals.• Dale Heptner – U.S. Navy 1943 to 1946. Assigned to the USS Los Angeles. Served as a gun captain in the Asiatic Theatre during World War II.• Fred Stehle – U.S. Navy Reserves from 1966 to 1968. Assigned to the destroyer the USS James C. Owens DD 776. Involved in the Tet Offensive in Vietnam and the Pueblo Crisis in North Korea.• Brian Kunkel – U.S. Air Force from 1969 to 1973 and later in Desert Storm.Upon receiving the quilt, 95-year-old McElduff said, “Aw, this is nice.” He went on to joke about old age with the audience and followed it up with a request to them to always support our service men and women and veterans. “Anything you can do to make their burden lighter, do it.”Fellow WWII veteran, 90-year-old Heptner didn’t say anything, but his tear-filled eyes of gratitude, as the ladies from the quilting group wrapped the blanket across his shoulders, said it all.