The public is invited to attend the 10 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, in the Lincoln Central Academy Auditorium located at 900 Main Avenue South, Fayetteville.

A full line up is planned to honor, remember and express gratitude for the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Tammy McConnell, Lincoln County Veteran Service officer, said the ceremony will include three speakers, including U.S. Army Veteran Steve Miller, retired SFC Jeremy Thompson and student Grayson Walter. Lance Carter, a Fayetteville lawyer, will serve as the master of ceremonies, lead the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and “God Bless America.”

Miller is married to Julie Plant Miller, a Lincoln County native. They met and married while serving in the U.S. Army. Miller hails from North Carolina and has worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama since 2003 when he returned to his home from Afghanistan, said Mc-Connell. “Steve is the vice chairman of the Lincoln County School Board. The couple lives in Northwest Lincoln County and have twin sons, Zane and Will,” McConnell said.

Following the invocation led by Cumberland Presbyterian Church Pastor Tim Smith, Jackie Greenwood, Lincoln County Veteran Service Officer assistant, will conduct the solemn tradition of honoring the fallen heroes with the Ringing of the Bell.

Thompson is a national security professional with 22-years of service as an All Source Intelligence Analyst supporting Special Forces missions at both tactical and strategic levels. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice and has completed multiple elite military and intelligence training programs with interagency experience alongside the FBI and CIA, said McConnell.

He deployed to Central Asia and worked on global operations, earning the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism in 2014. After retiring in 2022, he transitioned to the Department of Defense. Thompson has also held key leadership roles in military advocacy organizations and currently serves as executive director of the Special Operations Association of America, advancing policy, national security initiatives and support for the special operations community.

Grayson Walter is an incoming freshman at Lincoln County High School. While attending South Lincoln School, he served on the student council and was a proud member of the Honors Band, showcasing his musical talent as a trumpet player. Academically driven, Walter was part of the Beta Club and served as the Scholars Bowl Team captain, said McConnell. He is an active participant in 4-H and comes from a family with a strong tradition of military service. He has relatives who proudly served in every branch of the United States military. “This legacy of dedication and sacrifice is an important part of his background, and serves as a beacon for his immense appreciation for our Veterans,” she said. Grayson is the son of Cameron and Jennie Roles Walter of Lincoln County.

Charles Reagan and Ken Gullatt will play the military “Taps” — the bugle call — honoring the men and women who lost their lives in the service of their country.