Perhaps it wasn’t too much of a surprise that the opening night of a veterans salute Saturday in Tamaqua drew numerous veterans.

After all, the artifacts on display unquestionably carried great significance to those who served.

“I was in the National Guard in Tamaqua and Hometown from 1960 to 1966,” said Hometown’s Joseph Bnosky as he examined a large exhibit of historic memorabilia at the Tamaqua Historical Society Annex, 114 W. Broad St.

“A Tribute to our Veterans” showcased vintage military photographs, artwork, newspaper headlines and rare items covering a period from the Civil War to the present.

It’s fair to say Bnosky understands the meaning of sacrifice better than most.

His son, 1st Lt. Jeff Bnosky, 25, was killed in Saudi Arabia in January 1991 in operations related to Desert Storm.

“He was part of D Company, U.S. Army 5th Combat Engineers,” said Bnosky, who contributed items to the exhibit.

USMC combat veteran James Rodick of Hometown, a Purple Heart recipient, also was on hand.

Though he doesn’t speak much about his military background, Rodick served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, firing a howitzer during operations associated with the Tet Offensive.

At least eight others from his artillery school were fatally injured. Today he carries typical scars of war, if such scars can actually be called typical. Some are emotional. Others, such as shrapnel embedded in his leg, are physical.

“I’m glad I served my country,” Rodick said.

Bob Vybrenner of Tamaqua, U.S. Army veteran during the Vietnam years, contributed many items to the exhibit, including currency featuring an image of Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement for nearly three decades.

“Some of the currency has bloodstains,” Vybrenner said.

Other donations include military gear and uniforms.

Rochelle Mengel Evanousky of Barnesville donated a uniform once worn by her mother, who served in the motor pool of the Women’s Army Corps, and another once worn by her father, staff sergeant in the Air Force who served as flight engineer aboard a C-124 during the Korean War.

Among other curiosities was a Civil War “solid shot” cannonball from Gettysburg and a very rare nurse’s cadet uniform from World War II.

Yet another display honored the last Civil War veteran from Tamaqua, Joseph P. Zehner, who enlisted in the 28th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1861.

The exhibit, covering U.S. military involvement from the Spanish-American War to the present, includes vintage patriotic decorations, flags and bunting, patriotic music and famous marches played on a World War I antique player piano.

The exhibit will be open through the 4th of July week. Admission is free.