On Sunday, the Village of Stella will come together to host its annual Memorial Day service at the Stella Veteran’s Memorial.
The event will occur at 12:15 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. It will include an opening prayer with Jeremy Merritt, the flag raising and flag salute by Stella Boy Scout Troop No. 98, a patriotic song by Jeanne Marie Merritt, an address by Tom Higdon and “Taps” to conclude the service.
“It is a Memorial Day service, where they go down and they want people to show respect to the veterans that have served the country,” said Don Johnston, a local veteran. “It is to pay respect to the people who wore the uniform. Some paid the ultimate price.”
Johnston will introduce Higdon, a veteran of the Vietnam War. Higdon, a lieutenant with the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry, served as military intelligence in 1969.
“I want to tell them about what it means to be a veteran, personally,” he said. “I want to say how proud I am to be a veteran.”
Johnston noted that last year’s event – the first for Stella at the new Veterans’ Memorial – had a good attendance.
“I thought that it was a nice crowd,” Johnston said. “It is a nice thing.”
