The Lions Clubs of Villa Rica are joining local officials in holding what may be the city’s first Veterans’ Day program this Sunday to honor those men and women who have served in the military.

The free public event will be held at the World War I monument that stands in front of the Municipal Courtroom on Main Street beginning at 2 p.m.

“We want to invite as many veterans and their families as we can to the event, as well as the general public,” said Barbara Daniell, president of the Golden City Lions Club. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had one in the city. I know we haven’t since I’ve been here.”

The Golden City Lions Club began planning for the program earlier this year as a new club mission to do more to honor veterans and fallen soldiers. This effort began in May with a Memorial Day laying of a wreath at the Blue Star Marker on Highway 78 at Hillcrest Cemetery and recognition of the Gold Star Mothers who had lost sons in military service.

The Villa Rica Lions Club later joined in the effort to establish a Veteran’s Day program.

“We just feel it’s important to honor our veterans,” Daniell said.

It has long been a goal of Mayor J. Collins to hold regular events to honor veterans and when he was informed of the program he quickly gave his blessing and offered the city’s support for the effort.

“I think we always try to recognize our veterans and should honor those who served,” Collins said. “I think we should do that with events throughout the year, not necessarily just on a holiday, because everything we have in America we owe to veterans. They are the ones who built this country and defended this country.”

Though at press time the plans were still being finalized, Daniell said the program will include introductory remarks that highlight the sacrifices that America’s veterans have made in defending freedom since the Revolutionary War and continue to make today around the world. It will also include special patriotic music, placement of a wreath at the World War I monument, raising the American flag, a moment of silence and the playing of “Taps.”

“It’s not going to be anything fancy. It will be very simple and probably won’t take more than 30 minutes,” Daniell said. “I think the Golden City Lions Club will continue to do this every year.”