Seated in lawn chairs throughout Mystic Chain Park in Vera Cruz, hundreds of native and non-native residents of the tiny village in Upper Milford Township, south of Emmaus, enjoyed good weather, musical entertainment, festival food and lots and lots of reminiscing at the 63rd annual Vera Cruz Homecoming community celebration Aug. 17.

Volunteers from the Vera Cruz Community Association, many of whom have been working the community day for decades, cooked hot dogs and hamburgers and doled out soft drinks and ice cream for the patrons. Many talked about the "good old days" in Vera Cruz.

Some from out of the area came for the entertainment and the chance to sit in a wholesome environment and relax.

The Rehrig Brothers trio, from Walnutport, sang country tunes and some Conway Twitty arrangements popular with the crowd.

School's Out Band entertained in the evening with the group's distinctive brand of doo-wop, rock 'n' roll, Motown and R&B music. Smokin' Smitty's Catering, of Salisbury Township, supplied smoked pork and chicken picnic food and there seemed to be an abundance of baked bean plates on picnic tables scattered around the grounds.

American Legion Post 191, Emmaus, had an information table, but there was more reminiscing among military service veterans than information dissemination.

Jeffrey "Uncle Jeffrey" Tapler, popular Internet and cable television personality from local station WTAP, was emcee for the event and he hosted a live broadcast of his "Health and Happiness" show from the park.