Veterans and active military members are in for a special night Friday at Palmerton’s home varsity football game against Minersville.

All military members who show their military ID, and one guest, will be admitted into the stadium free of charge and are invited on the field for a halftime recognition.

Doris Zellers, a Palmerton Area School District board member, said the idea came to be following a Facebook post from a Bomber alum.

In August, Austin Kuehner, a U.S. Marine now living in North Carolina, asked for his hometown to dedicate a day to servicemen and women who were currently serving. He also wanted to honor the 13 service members who lost their lives in the Kabul airport attack.

“Knowing the family, I knew we had to do something and there is always a lot of support at our football games so I thought that would be a great time for this,” Zellers said. “With lots of planning and help, we got it set up for this Friday night.”

Military members will receive pins and the night is also scheduled to include fireworks, Zellers said.

“It’s going to be a really cool night and it’s just our way of giving back to our service members, past and present,” she added.

For more information, contact Doris Zellers at dzellers@palmerton.org.

In conjunction with the salute to veterans, Palmerton football coaches are working with the Valor House in Kunkletown on a clothing and nonperishable good drive.

The Valor House is in need of donations for the following items: men’s clothing - jeans/pants sizes 32, 34 and 36, socks, underwear and T-shirts.

“I would like to give our nation’s heroes some help by donating these items along with any nonperishable goods that can help out the organization for the upcoming holiday season since they have sacrificed so much for us.,” Palmerton Football Coach Chris Walkowiak said.

Any community items wishing to donate items can drop them off at the high school by Friday.