The Ashfield community observed the Memorial Day holiday with a dedication of a marker in honor of the military.

“We have a memorial stone being dedicated today for those who have served and are continuing to serve our country,” Sessa Lenhardt, secretary of the Ashfield Playground Committee, explained.

Dennis Pearson, East Penn Township vice president and Ashfield Playground Committee Member, came up with the idea.

“The reason why I came up with this idea is because in Allentown, I am still the Chairman of the Allentown Flag Day Commission,” Pearson said.

“Because I do that, I like to bring these ideas here. I thought it would be nice to have a monument at our park dedicated to veterans.”

The Lehighton United Veterans Organization helped to dedicate the monument, offering a Memorial Day service including a prayer, a gun salute, and the playing of Taps.

“This is the weekend that we remember,” Lehighton UVO Commander Kevin Long said. We pause, reflect, and remember, and think about what has been what has been given to us that we can be assembled here today.

“We as a nation set aside a time to remember those men and women who answered our nation’s call, and ultimately gave their lives in defense of our country. Let us never fall short in honoring their memories of our fallen brave.”

Sessa Lenhardt and Bernard Hosier, Committee President, then unveiled the new Veterans Memorial Stone next to the pavilion at the Ashfield Playground.

“I’m excited to do something like this for those in our area since we are a small community,” Lenhardt added. “It means a lot to me, personally, and I know it means a lot to others.”