The Ashfield playground recreation committee of East Penn Township held a flag-raising ceremony and dedication late Saturday morning honoring local veterans from the Lehighton area.

“The event is in honor of all veterans who served,” said Sessa Lenhardt, secretary to the recreation committee.

Also present were Lenhardt’s grandparents, both of whom are committee officials, Loretta Smith as well as her husband, Norman Smith Jr. A special thank you goes out to Smith for the work he’s done to install the flagpole in the ground outside the playground’s pavilion.

In addition to the ceremony, veterans were served a picnic style lunch donated by Nino of Pizza Como in Lehighton. Six cheese pizzas were donated by Pizza Como as well as two cases of regular and diet iced tea cartons from Zimmerman’s ice tea. Additionally, three dozen cupcakes were donated by The Bakery Nook in Egypt, Lehigh County.

A special thank you goes out to the businesses who generously donated goods to the veterans, as well as Ashfield playground recreation committee volunteers

A special thank you goes out to the businesses that generously donated goods to the veterans, as well as Ashfield playground recreation committee volunteers.

The committee volunteers remind locals that if they are interested in renting the covered, screened-in pavilion for parties and celebrations, that the space includes access to the pavilion’s kitchen, grills, basketball court, playground, baseball field as well as the adjacent creek for fishing for only $80.

Anyone interested in renting the pavilion may call 610-377-0973 and ask to speak with Loretta.