Members of the Emmaus Commemorative Gardens Foundation are pleased to announce the installation of 16 bricks to the Veteran's Walkway 1 p.m., May 26. For the seventh year, this ceremony is a combined effort of the Emmaus Veteran's Committee and the Emmaus Commemorative Gardens Foundation.

The Emmaus Commemorative Gardens Foundation has a far-reaching vision for creating remembrance opportunities in the Borough of Emmaus.

The Veteran's Walkway is one area of the garden that acknowledges the service and sacrifice veterans and their families have made for our country. The Veteran's Walk is a dedicated, landscaped path containing hundreds of bricks that is part of the overall walkway system that surrounds the rose garden and central pergola in the Remembrance Garden. Bricks serve as a constant reminder of the impact our local veterans have had on our community. The Veteran's Walkway was created to honor those who served and who are now serving in our armed forces.

The ECGF has partnered with the Emmaus Veterans Committee to offer veteran's bricks to the members of our local veteran's posts (American Legion Post 191, Catholic War Vets Post 1067 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7088).

During the ceremony, the recognized men and women will be honored for their past or present bravery and patriotism in the United States Military. The list of honorees includes: Arthur D. Krauss, Donald J. Krauss, Richard D. Krauss, Mae A. Krauss, Carolyn E. Hutter, Leonard J. Fenstermacher, Paul E. DeVries, Richard W. Schmeltzle, Cyril M. Kocis, Ralph Gioielli, Allen Trumbauer, James Wagner, Norman P. George, Joseph R. Kovish, Frank A. Weber III and Thomas A. Johnston.

Also being honored is longtime East Penn Press photographer Richard F. Gaal for his work for The Press and the community. The placement of his stone is in front of the flagpole which is fitting as Gaal twice received the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge award for his photographs in 1969 and 1972. Gaal served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and was a press photographer for 36 years.

Immediately following the Veterans Brick Installation, ECGF members will gather for a special thank-you reception at the garden. The inaugural Community Celebration of Service event is open to the public and is being held to honor ECGF volunteers, donors and the community served. Special thanks to many individuals and volunteer organizations include St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Paradise Landscaping, Greenstone Landscaping, Gary's Tree Service, Emmaus Historical Society, VFW Post 7088, American Legion Post 191 and Catholic War Vets Post 1067. Emmaus Lions Club, Emmaus Rotary Club, Emmaus Garden Club, Emmaus Kiwanis Club and Cintas.

"Service comes in a variety of forms, so the directors of the ECGF thought this day of honoring our veterans was the perfect setting to thank the many, many individuals and organizations who help to keep this garden beautiful for events such as the Veterans Walkway brick installation. "What better time to thank our garden volunteers than in this setting, utilizing the garden for the purpose it was created," Mike Waddell, Emmaus Commemorative Gardens Foundation executive director said.

Volunteers and organizations along with their families are invited to the celebration. "We have amazing volunteers who always step up when we have a need," Jill Cramer, ECGF director and manager of garden maintenance said. "From planting to weeding to mulching, they show up to do their share. We truly have the best volunteers and we are happy to be able to celebrate them publicly. We invite everyone to celebrate the much-appreciated work of our volunteers."

A short program will be followed by light refreshments.

The Veteran's Walkway is part of the Remembrance Garden at The Knauss Homestead, 164 E. Main St., Emmaus.