Prior to Veterans Day, brand new flags were placed in area cemeteries at the graves of individuals who served in the U.S. armed forces.

Dennis Ziegler, president of Veterans Day and Memorial Day committees of the Allen O. Delke American Legion Post 16 in Slatington, reported on the project.

Members of the Legion removed the flags distributed for Memorial Day and positioned 2,500 new ones on veterans’ graves.

Ziegler said the Legion crew is very careful to make certain the flags are given to all veterans and no one receives a flag who was not in the military.

“Each cemetery has a book with veterans’ names,” Ziegler said. “The name must correspond with the flag stand which could have been moved accidentally or even stolen, which is a felony.

“Sometimes it takes half an hour to 45 minutes to do this.”

Although Lehigh County pays for the Memorial Day flags, it no longer provides money for Veterans Day flags.

The legion established a special fund to cover the costs for the fall flags, which are about $1 each.

About 35-40 people help with the flag distribution project, which usually takes half a day.

Veterans’ service periods date back to the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 up through more recent times of conflict and peace.

“At the old cemetery across the street from Neffs Church, there’s a soldier who served with George Washington,” Ziegler said.

He says Boy Scouts from Troop 66, sponsored by the Allen O. Delke Post, assist with the flag project.

The Legion Post takes responsibility for veterans’ flags at Neffs, Heidelberg, Ebenezer, Jacksonville, Friedens UCC, United Presbyterian along Route 873, and Slatedale, as well as Williamstown, Fairview, the Roman Catholic church on Washington Street, and Union cemeteries in Slatington.

Each year legion members conduct a veterans’ remembrance ceremony at one of the churches or cemeteries on their list.

“It takes years to go through the list,” Ziegler said. “Sometimes it doesn’t suit. There’s a portion in the service where we do our thing.”

Robert Churetta is commander of the Allen O. Delke Post.

The organization includes the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary and the Legion Riders, bikers who provide an escort from one cemetery to another.

The Legion has a fundraiser breakfast the third Sunday of each month.

At Christmas, members visit veterans in assisted living or other homes.

A student from Northern Lehigh school district plays the bugle for Veterans and Memorial Day services and for funerals.