By EMILY BECKETT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Family and friends of veterans will have the opportunity to gather at the Alabama National Cemetery Monday, May 30, at 9 a.m. for the third annual Memorial Day Ceremony honoring the men and women who have died in service to our country.

Congressman Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., is scheduled to speak, along with Carlos Rabren, owner of C & C Construction and Christopher English, senior resident engineer of the Alabama National Cemetery project.

Rabren and English lead the cemetery’s 18-month construction project.

“These guys poured their hearts into the project,” said Quincy Whitehead, director of the Alabama National Cemetery. “[They] showed a lot of passion and compassion.”

Guests of the ceremony will be among the first to see new buildings and permanent fixtures like the 32 new flag poles and flags lining the main entrance.

Local families and organizations donated funds for all the new flag poles.

“This will be the first year [the flags] will be flown,” Whitehead said. “This is our extra-special ceremony for the fact that the construction is done.”

Whitehead said the American Legion and various branches of the military may attend in honor of veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

A wreath-laying ceremony following the speakers’ remarks will conclude the entire ceremony, which Whitehead said usually lasts about an hour.