It was a day of reflection, remembrance, and paying homage to those men and women who sacrificed their lives for our nation’s freedom.

Commander Kevin Long said he was humbled to see so many people attend Memorial Day services held Monday morning in the upper Lehighton Park Amphitheater to honor those who gave the supreme sacrifice.

Guest speaker Lt. Col. John M. O’Boyle said he was honored to have been given the opportunity to speak at the ceremony which honors American servicemen and women who have not only died in the service of our country, but also all those who have died later in life.

“These are men and women who served the nation both in war time and those whose presence in peace time deterred conflict,” O’Boyle said. “I believe that it is appropriate that we meet here today to honor the memories of our veterans who have passed.”

O’Boyle, of Hamburg, said he loves to walk through cemeteries, and that many times when his daughter was younger, he would take her for a walk to read the names of the people who lived in their town a long time ago.

“On our walks through the cemeteries, I always would tell my daughter that people live on when you go through a cemetery, read their names and the dates they lived,” he said. “I always would tell her that her grandchildren will know her grandparents through her and, in that way, their memory lives on.

“Today, we are here to honor those veterans who are buried here in Lehighton and honor their memory and their lives. In the cemeteries in and around town, there are many veterans who died in America’s conflicts as well as those who served during peacetime and now lie in peace.”

O’Boyle, who graduated from Northampton High School, said the history of this day goes back to the Civil War. Originally, this day was known as Decoration Day, and was first enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War.

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May, said O’Boyle, who noted that a holiday to honor all who sacrificed for this country has only been an official holiday for a 51 years.

O’Boyle then read the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, who fought and died in World War I.

He ended his speech by thanking all those who came out, and told them to remember the purpose of the day, which is to honor people in their families and communities.

The ringing of the bell followed.

Long said that since the first shot was fired that started the Revolutionary War, to the last shot in the War on Terror, America has been involved in 12 wars, and that again honor those fallen comrades by ringing of the bell.

He said the number of deceased are as follows: Continental Army (4,435); War of 1812 (2,260); Mexican War (1,733); Civil War-Union Forces (364,611), Confederate Forces (258,000); Spanish-American War (2,446); WWI (115,516); World War II (405,399); Korean War (54,246); Vietnam (58,235); Grenada-Lebanon (297); Persian Gulf (373); Operation Iraqi Freedom (4,423); Operation Enduring Freedom (2,351); Operation New Dawn (73); Operation Inherent Resolve (79); and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (71).

Rural services were held Sunday. The UVO visited 15 cemeteries over the weekend, putting new flags on the gravesites.

After the main service, those who were able formed up on North Third Street, and proceeded to Lehighton Cemetery, where military honors were rendered.

Immediately afterward, the group then went to American Legion Post 314 for the flag raising ceremony and conclusion of Memorial Day services/honors.