In advance of Veterans' Day, Nov. 11, Lehigh Valley veterans were honored Nov. 7 at the Charles Chrin Community Center, 4100 Green Pond Road, Palmer Township.

Ronnie Delbacco, Chairman of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, a nonpartisan group that advocates for smaller and more fiscally-conservative government, opened the ceremony with a welcome to the veterans and other attendees.

"The Lehigh Valley Tea Party wanted to do something to focus on our heroes, the United States military veterans," Delbacco said.

"We didn't want to invite politicians. We didn't want this to be about politics. This event is about the service men and women.

"It was also important for us to involve the youth of the community, so that they can learn to better understand, respect and honor our veterans," Delbacco said.

Active Lehigh Valley Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts chose one female and one male veteran, respectively, to honor at the event.

The Boy Scouts chose to honor Richard Clegg, a United States Army Specialist who served in Iraq with the 811 ORD.

The Girl Scouts chose to honor Girl Scout leader and Retired Major in the United States Army Dental Corps, Dr. V. Ginger Farrow Williams.

"I was pleasantly surprised to be honored like this," said Williams. "I like to do things for people without causing a fuss. This was a big surprise."

Williams, principal dentist, A Plus Smile Center PC, East Stroudsburg, enlisted in the Army in 1985. "I didn't have the funding to go to college or dental school," she said. "The Army seemed like a good alternative."

Williams retired in 2005 after 20 years of service, including Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

"I'm proud to have been a soldier in the Army," she said. "It has opened a lot of doors for me. I encourage anyone who has an idea to serve to do it."

In addition to honoring Williams and Clegg, the event included a veterans' services fair.