The Palmerton United Veterans Organization Memorial Day activities will get underway with a parade at 10 a.m. Monday.

Emmersyn O’Donnell, 7, of Palmerton Daisy Troop 3112, has been named Miss Poppy 2023, and Luka Tobia of Cub Scout Pack 209, has been named Palmerton American Legion Mascot.

Emmersyn is the daughter of Brandon and Kelli O’ Donnell of Palmerton. Luka is the son of Vincent Tobia and Chelsea Holthausen of Kunkletown.

Emmersyn, a first-grade student at Parkside Education Center, said “It’s an honor to help the veterans.”

Luka, a second-grade student at Towamensing Elementary School, said he’s “A little nervous and a little excited.”

The children will each carry a wreath during the parade; one of which will be placed at the memorial in the borough park, and the other at the memorial near the borough hall on Delaware Avenue.

Kelli and Luka, along with various other scouts, will be selling poppies after the parade and during the ceremonies following.

Money from the proceeds of the sale will go to the Palmerton American Legion and the Palmerton Veterans of Foreign Wars to be used for scholarships and the upkeep of the Veterans Memorial.

The parade will start at 10 a.m. and form in front of Shea’s Hardware and Delaware Avenue, where it will march down Delaware Avenue. There will be stops along the route to place a wreath at the Veterans Memorial, the Revolutionary Soldier at the police station, and at the monument at borough hall.

The parade will proceed to Fifth Street, to Franklin Avenue to Palmerton Borough Park, where services are held at 11 a.m. In case of rain, services will be held in the S.S. Palmer gymnasium.

Carbon County Judge Steven R. Serfass will be the featured speaker.

Serfass is serving his 14th year on the Court of Common Pleas.

He became Carbon County’s 18th judge when he was sworn into office on Jan. 4, 2010.

A lifelong resident of the county, Serfass graduated from Lehighton Area High School and continued his education at Dickinson College where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree at Temple University School of Law.

Before his election to the bench, Serfass and his wife, attorney Jenny Cheng, maintained a general law practice in Palmerton for 14 years concentrating on municipal law, business law, civil litigation and estates.

He served as Carbon County solicitor from 2000 to 2004, and currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of St. Luke’s Hospital - Carbon Campus.

Serfass and his wife reside in Palmerton with their children, Ben, a 2019 Palmerton Area High School graduate, and Hannah, who is a member of Palmerton’s Class of 2023.