By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

The Columbiana Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was filled to capacity on Sunday, Aug. 30 with the congregation and special guests as three special certificates of appreciation and one letter of solidarity were presented to Bishop Nathan Thompson for the ward’s exceptional community service work in Shelby County and Alabama.

LDS members and missionaries have been extremely involved with the restoration of the Columbiana City Cemetery, hosted the recent Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance meeting, volunteered on Memorial Day at the Alabama National Cemetery and assisted the Shelby County Historical Society with the Alabama Historical Association Columbiana Quilt Walk, Shelby County Birthday Celebrations and Sons of American Revolution State Conference.

Ward member Clem Muck, new board member of both Shelby County Historical Society and SKY “Skilled Knowledgeable Youth” at Thompson High School, has worked with all projects.

Ted Urquhart, president of the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance, Quincy Whitehead, director of the Alabama National Cemetery, Bobby Joe Seales, president of the Shelby County Historical Society and past state president of the Sons of American Revolution, presented certificates of appreciations to Bishop Thompson for the ward’s community service work.

“I do not know what we would do without the LDS volunteers,” said Seales.

“Clem Muck is an organizational guru,” said Urquhart.

A statement of solidarity dated Aug. 27, written by Charles Powell, Minister of Music and Senior Adults at First Baptist Church of Columbiana, was read by Muck.

“We are pleased to be working in solidarity with your LDS congregation on behalf of the 2016 Memorial Day program at the Alabama National Cemetery. We look forward to a close affiliation in remembering our veterans, both fallen and deceased, who are interred there.”

Special guests also attending were: Columbiana Mayor Stancil and Ann Handley; Wes Sanders, traffic manager of Alabama National Cemetery Memorial Day event; Jennifer Maier, director-in-training Shelby County Museum and Archives; Diane Seales and President-Elect Dr. Fred Olive, Shelby County Historical Society; Mark Ledbetter, customer service manager, Calera Publix; Claudiann Tilton, RSVP volunteer; Dr. Wesley Hester, principal Thompson High School; Allen Curlee, coordinator Alabaster Ward, Alabama National Cemetery Memorial Day program; Gwen Davis, USPO employee and Memorial Day volunteer, Margie Westenhofer, director of public affairs, Bessemer Stake, Jim and Mary Price.