Blue skies and a burst of sunlight replaced an early morning fog and covered the Northampton Joint Veterans Memorial Park Sunday.

The borough's three veterans organizations – Catholic War Veterans, Post 454, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4714, and the American Legion, Post 353 – held a Veterans Day ceremony at the plaza at Washington and Dewey avenues. The Egypt VFW Post 7293 joined in the tribute to the area's veterans.

The ceremony began at precisely the 11th hour of the 11th month and 11th day. Gene Kutzler opened the ceremony by playing his bagpipes, after which Joan Glover, past president of the Catholic War Veterans, sang the national anthem.

The tolling of the church bells at nearby Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church offered a solemn touch to the ceremony.

Robert Siekonic, officer of the day, Northampton VFW Post 4714, led the program and oversaw the dedication of the joint veterans memorial park at Washington and Dewey avenues. Siekonic said the two-year project cost thousands of dollars and completely transformed the area.

Space had been running out for the hundreds of white crosses on which the names of veterans appeared. Now, bricks bear the names of those who died in combat on a platform in a special area.

Glover noted a small table with a white cloth for veterans "missing from our midst," an empty chair, inverted glass, a single rose, a slice of lemon and a pinch of salt.

Siekonic said the purpose of the ceremony is to honor Vietnam veterans, who were shunned on their return home. The ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War.

"A place with the feel of peace," is how Siekonic described the new joint veterans park.

Speaking of the sacrifices the servicemen and servicewomen gave to their country, he said "an eternal debt" is owed by all for their effort to keep the country free and safe.

The Catholic War Veterans served as the group offering a gun salute; shots fired rang across the plaza. The joint veterans groups served as the honor guard with flags.

The ceremony ended with the playing of "Amazing Grace."