“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” the Rev. James D. Robison, pastor of Good Shepherd UCC

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The day was dreary as the Rev. James D. Robison, pastor of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, welcomed people to the Memorial Day service at Slatedale Cemetery.

Victoria Lear opened the program with “The Star Spangled Banner.” This was her eighth time at the Slatedale service. A senior at Northern Lehigh High School, she is heading for Nashville, Tenn., when school finishes for the summer.

“We thank you for those who made their ultimate sacrifice for serving our country and our freedoms,” Robison prayed,

Master of Ceremonies for Allen O. Delke, American Legion Post 16, Slatington, was Dennis Ziegler who gave an observation on the day’s events.

The rifle squad fired its salute and “Taps” was played.

The anthem, “Song for the Unsung Hero,” was sung by a combined chorus comprised of members from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd United Church of Christ and St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, with Linda Eberhardt on the keyboard.

Pastor Todd Glasmire of Neola United Methodist Church, Stroudsburg, gave the address.

Born in Emerald, he is a Northern Lehigh High School graduate, He joined the ministry in 2005 earning a degree in marriage and family therapy, and a Master of Divinity degree.

“When I speak to people, it is a cyclical process of two steps forward and one step back,” Glasmire said. “If you have lost someone, something will bring the memory back. There are triggers that bring it back.”

He said there are different stages of grief and if you lost someone in the military there are memories that come back.

“People have to adjust to an environment without the someone who is missing,” Glasmire said.

“Things we did with that person, we now have to do with others.

“Memorial Day is one thing that government did right, he said. “It is a most solemn event. It should be on you to do your best, though for many it is day for picnics. However for those who served it is a lot more.”

Glasmire listed four ways to observe the day: remember the soldier, remember the sorrow, remember the sacrifice, and recognize what soldiers did for us.

He said memorials date back to Biblical times.

“Remembrance and memorials are something we have done right,” Glasmire said.

“They placed themselves in harm’s way often in weather worse than this,” Robison said,

“Do not let them feel they served in vain.”