Less than a year after it was dedicated, a Palmerton shrine finds itself in some rather prestigious company.

The Palmerton Veterans Memorial has been added to the National War Memorial Registry, a recording of the nation's war memorials in one repository.Run by The Memorial Day Foundation, the National War Memorial Registry contains 4,804 total listings in its War Memorial Registry, according to its website.Palmerton Goodwill Ambassador Richard Nothstein said the Palmerton United Veterans Organization, which is comprised of the American Legion Post 269 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7134, are most grateful for the inclusion."We were honored to have our veterans memorial added to the National War Memorial Registry," Nothstein said. "Thank you for your support in making this memorial an impressive, tasteful, and sincere 'thank you' to all of our veterans."With permission from the borough, the PUVO decided to build the memorial in the park as a tribute to those veterans who hailed from the Palmerton Area School District that gave the ultimate sacrifice, and to those who served to preserve our freedom.Dedicated last Veterans Day, the memorial is located on a section of land 40 feet by 60 feet in size in the lower southwest corner of the park, and includes a list of all veterans' names on granite monuments from all time periods of service.It includes names of veterans from the American Revolutionary era to the present, a span of over 230 years, who either entered the service while a resident of the Palmerton area, or who have lived in the area at least half of their adult life.To qualify, veterans need not have seen action in wartime. Peacetime veterans will also be honored.The centerpiece is a sculpture entitled "Some Gave All," and depicts a gun and helmet. James N. Muir of Sedona, Ariz., sculpted the top piece of the sculpture, which was donated by Nothstein.It is surrounded by a wide walkway and standing stones with the names of veterans. Those who were killed in action are named on the base of the sculpture.The memorial consists of 24 slabs of granite, and contains the names of 180 veterans per slab engraved on the granite. Walters Monument Company did the engraving of all the names on the pillars, bricks and blocks. Matt Lang, of Lang's Landscaping &Tree Service, Palmerton, laid all the bricks and blocks. Local contractor Todd Wentz did excavating work and the laying of the base of the monument.