Supreme sacrifice.

Supreme, meaning "the highest" and sacrifice, meaning, "the giving up of one thing for the sake of another."That was one of the chief messages relayed by Carbon County Director of Veterans Affairs Henry Desrosiers to those who attended the annual Memorial Day Parade in Palmerton on Monday.Sponsored by the Palmerton United Veteran's Organization American Legion Post 269, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7134 the parade formed at Second Street and Delaware Avenue.Throughout the parade, the veterans stopped at the Veterans Memorial in the borough park, as well as the monument in front of borough hall, to place wreaths in honor of all veterans, both living and dead.Services were held in the borough park.Steve Vlossak, master of ceremonies, opened the services with the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by Miss Poppy and the Legion Mascot."I'd like to remind all veterans that they have earned the honor to salute the flag during the national anthem," Vlossak said.He explained the significance of the day, and that we must not forget the prisoners of war and those missing in action.Palmerton Mayor Chris Olivia said, "We are humbled by the tremendous courage shown by our brave sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen throughout our history."There is no doubt that our veterans have paved the way for our military's reputation as the finest fighting force in the world. They were real people, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. They were loved, and they are missed. Let us remember the courage of all who have served and sacrificed on our behalf."Olivia said, "If you know or see a veteran or someone in uniform still serving our country, simply saying, 'Thank you for your service to our country' will always bring a smile to their face."One of the best ways to honor the dead is to serve the living," he said."Those who serve to protect us, our firefighters, police, teachers, and volunteers constantly remind us of the freedoms we have because of those who have served our country during wartime."Today we also honor the freedoms that we have because of the good men and women in our armed forces who fought for us and continue to do so today. May their sacrifices bring us hope for a safer, more peaceful world. God bless our armed forces, and God bless the

U.S.A.""Memorial Day is a day of conflicting emotions for each of us; a blend of pride and remorsefulness, gratitude and loss, and a deep sense of patriotism," Desrosiers said."We owe a great debt to those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live free. We can start to pay that debt for not forgetting, by remembering what they did, and what they stood for.""We share a common sorrow, but we also are united in our thanks to those who gave their last full measure of patriotism to a cause much greater than themselves," he said."Scripture tells us that there is no greater love than a man laying down his life for his friends. The men and women that honor and remember today have proven that they are not just friends to us as Americans, but they are friends to men and women in countries around the world."These brave soldiers, sailors, fliers and Marines were real people, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, wives and husbands."They were strong. They loved and were loved, and they are missed. They died protecting their country and what it stood for. They died defending a way of life that they felt was worth dying for, families, children, values and freedom," Desrosiers said.Supreme sacrifice are the two words Desrosiers asked those in attendance to take with them as they left the memorial ceremony."For those that have served, and the survivors of those lost, there is no need to explain Memorial Day; every day is Memorial Day," he said."And in the words of G.K. Chesterton, 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what's in front of him, but because he loves what's behind him.' "Copies of the book, "Korea Forgotten," were then presented to veterans Delano Swartz, Kenneth Mack, Joseph Vargo, James Perschy, Ray Weidman (accepted by his sister, Debbie Craig), and Donald Smith, who was killed in North Korea in 1951 (accepted by his sister, Carol Radler).Vlossak then asked each veteran in attendance from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, to come front to receive a pin for their service to our country."As you can see, Palmerton has been well-represented in serving (our country) over the years," he said."Think of how many years of service this represents of service to our country."