Walnutport auxiliary decorates monument

Come Saturday, many had already dived into their long weekend activities.

Not members of R.W. Fritzinger VFW Post 7215 Auxiliary. They spent the afternoon decorating the Walnutport veterans memorial, which sits in a small park between Washington and Fifth streets.

The post’s auxiliary puts on the service every year. The work included stapling red, white and blue bows to the trees, replacing flags and setting wreaths in front of the memorial.

“For the last 16 years at the memorial here, we have come together as post and auxiliary,” Karen Bandzi, auxiliary president, said.

It was Sandra Hopkins’ first time participating. She said the auxiliary’s longstanding tradition of decorating the memorial made the afternoon “that much more important.”

“I’m so glad Walnutport continues to do this,” Hopkins said.

For Carl Ellis - who served as post commander for five years - Saturday was a chance to remember the significance behind Memorial Day.

“Too often, Memorial Day is thought (of as) the first day of summer and a big vacation holiday,” Ellis said. “Today’s a day of remembrance and respect for the fallen.”

The afternoon ended with a brief ceremony and the replacing of the American and POW/MIA flags hanging from a pole behind the memorial.

Last weekend might have been the last time members of the VFW decorate the memorial before it’s refurbished. Earlier this month, Walnutport Borough Council decided to reach out to local businesses to help fund its restoration. Their plan includes removing the trees that are currently in the park and planting new ones, installing lighting and making access to the memorial easier.

The borough hopes to use a $23,000 matching grant obtained through Northampton County’s Open Space Initiative to help fund the beautification project.