Gloria F. Zimmerman and Nancy Kline, both of South Whitehall, were among 17 Lehigh County residents honored on May 21 during the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services 14th annual tribute to Unsung Heroes.

The event was held in honor of Older Americans Month at Asbury United Methodist Chuch, South Whitehall.

This tribute honors older adults in the Valley who have exhibited generosity with their time and talents to enhance the lives of others.

Zimmerman, 63, was given the award for her many attributes and for her accomplishments achieved in the name of anonymity.

For decades prior to his death in 2000, Zimmerman's father, Sterling, was a pillar in maintaining the proud heritage of the Pennsylvania Germans in the Northwestern Lehigh School District.

The pride and preservation of local ancestry also runs in Zimmerman's veins, a lifelong resident of Lehigh County.

She gathered with other local historians in 2002 to form the Weisenberg Lowhill Township Historical Society.

With the passing of her parents and only sibling, Kenneth, Zimmerman deeded her childhood home, Zimmerman's Hotel, also known as Werley's Corner Hotel, to the historical society to serve as its headquarters to house the area's historical artifacts as well as an educational and genealogy center.

A well-maintained large German bank barn with hex signs and several storage buildings in the 2.9-acre tract were also preserved.

Another legacy of her dad, just before his death, was being among the founders of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University.

Zimmerman fulfilled her father's wishes by being a benefactor in the preservation of a 60-acre 19th century farmstead near the university likewise serving as an educational and archival center.

Zimmerman, a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Allentown West for the past 24 years, a past president and current chairing the service committee, had urged the formation of a centennial committee and the installation of the flagpoles at the entrance to Ontelaunee Park in Lynn Township.

Her Rotary group financed the construction of two flagpoles while Zimmerman personally financed a third flagpole specifically to fly the official Pennsylvania German flag her father helped design, dedicating the pole to the memory of Sterling and Florence Zimmerman.

She topped this off by being a Gold Sponsor toward the $66,000 project goal her Rotary Club led for the construction of a now heavily used concert band shell in the park.

Parkland, East Penn and Northwestern Lehigh school districts benefited by another local Rotary project, guaranteeing dictionaries to each third grade student.

Zimmerman financially participates and each year is on site to assist in the distribution at Weisenberg Elementary School.

Appreciative of the sacrifices of the men and women who answered their nation's call to military service, Zimmerman worked for and contributed to establishment of a granite veterans' monument at Ziegels Church, Breinigsville, by the Union Church Cemetery Board, for which she is treasurer.

The Christ's Church at Lowhill Food Pantry, serving the needy of Northwestern Lehigh, is regularly the recipient of fresh produce and financial support from the Allentown West Rotary Club under Zimmerman's tenure as service committee chairperson.

Giving of her personal time, Zimmerman also combs outlets locally and in outlying counties for clothes, books and toys for children, as well as household items which she donates to the "Blessing Room" at the food pantry.

In addition to serving on the historical society's board of directors, she serves or has served on the boards of the Community Music School, the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation and the Alumni Association and Meals on Wheels.

She is also a very engrossed family genealogist and is always willing to give a beginning genealogist a helping hand.

Nancy Kline, who will turn 80 this July, was honored as Cedarbrook Nursing Home's Unsung Hero.

Kline was first introduced to Cedarbrook in 1998 when she realized she could no longer care for her mother in their home.

Kline had no other choice but to admit her mother, who died six years later, to Cedarbrook.

During those six years, Kline became aware of the volunteer opportunities available at Cedarbrook, and decided volunteering was a wonderful way to show her appreciation and to give back for the care her mother received.

Thus began a long and notable career as Cedarbrook's Unsung Hero."

In 2002, Kline joined the Cedarbrook Auxiliary.

After being a member for only one year, she was elected president in 2003, and ,then in January 2008, she also took on the responsibility of being treasurer. Kline continues to serve in that dual position.

Kline is a magnanimous individual with a huge personality and an even bigger heart, whose entire life centers around Cedarbrook and "her" residents.

Kline's volunteering is not limited to the auxiliary. This active senior also transports residents to the in-house beauty salon, participates in the Music Maker Program, escorts residents on shopping trips and other outings, serves meals at the resident quarterly luncheons, helps collate the monthly newspaper and helps residents fish at the annual fishing outing.

Kline has accumulated more than 400 volunteer hours over the past two years.

In 2012, she underwent her first total hip replacement surgery and, in 2013, Kline had her second total hip replacement.

Within two months of each operation, Kline was doing what she does best giving back.

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Editor's note: The information in this article on the Unsung Heroes was provided by Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services.