News
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Spencer's Veteran's Day service to honor nation's protectors
ATHENS — Spencer Family Funeral Home, in cooperation with the Athens VFW Post 5319 and its Ladies Auxiliary, will honor area veterans and emergency-response personnel during its annual Veterans Day Service and Candle Light Ceremony at 7 p.m. Nov. 11.
Col. Frank Walker (ret.) of the Michigan Air National Guard will be the guest speaker at the ceremony in which each of the 17 deceased veterans for whom Spencer's has handled funeral arrangements in the past year will be remembered with the lighting of a candle by a family member.
The ceremony is open to the public and all area veterans, current members of the military, firefighters, police officers and EMTs are invited to attend and be recognized.
Military Honors will be conducted by Commander Dave Young and the Athens VFW Post 5319.
Athens Boy Scout Troop 346 also will participate.
Veterans Day, as it has been called since 1954, began in 1919 as Armistice Day commemorating the signing of the armistice at the end of World War I a year earlier on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. For the first time, another 11 will be added to the holiday this year to denote the 11th year of the new decade.
This will be the 10th annual service at Spencer's honoring those who have made sacrifices to serve and protect our country. The first was held on Sept. 11, 2002, in recognition of the first anniversary of 9/11. Beginning in 2003, the services have been held on Veterans Day.
Spencer Family Funeral Home is located at 310 Capital Ave. (M-66) in Athens. Call 269-729-4100 for more information.