GREENFIELD — One local funeral home is celebrating life by honoring area veterans with a free movie screening.
After all, the sacrifice and service of America’s veterans allow us to cherish life’s important moments, said Casey Jones, communications coordinator for Stillinger Family Funeral Home.
At 6 p.m. Friday, Stillinger Family Funeral Home presents the documentary “Lest They Be Forgotten: Omaha Beach,” at the H. J. Ricks Centre for the Arts, 122 W. Main St. This free screening is open to the public to honor those who served in the military, as a remembrance of Veterans Day and as a celebration of life.
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The event follows Stillinger’s Celebrate Life campaign, launched over the summer to encourage people to reflect on how they celebrate life.
The community was invited to submit videos, stories and photos demonstrating how they choose to celebrate life. Winners were chosen in three categories: the student winner earned a $1,000 bond; the adult winner won $1,000; and a donation of $1,000 was made to the winning nonprofit.
The Friday event will begin with remarks by David Stillinger, funeral home director, who is the son and grandson of veterans. The Greenfield Veterans Honor Guard will present the colors and the national anthem will be played. Each branch of military service will be recognized, Jones said.
“The event is to showcase the real heroes of our country,” Jones said. “They give us the freedom to celebrate life, and that’s why they should be honored.”
Following the hour-long film, veterans are welcome to select a greeting card from a display in the lobby of the theater and take it home with them.
Service organizations from Greenfield-Central High School, including the Interact Club, the student council, the Key Club and Greenfield-Central wrestling team, filled out more than 200 cards thanking the veterans for their service, Jones said, adding that veterans thank-you cards can be downloaded at celebratelife.stillingerfamily.com.
They can be given to a veteran you know or brought to the event and given to a veteran there, Jones said.
Although the movie and the veterans honor ceremony are free, Stillinger Family Funeral Home will be collecting donations of cash or check for a number of veterans-related organizations including the VET Fund and the Avenue Flag Fund.
“The veterans of our country and Hancock County have laid their lives on the lines to protect our freedom and our community,” said David Stillinger, owner of Stillinger Family Funeral Home – Pasco Chapel. “It is because of them that we get to live freely and celebrate every day. Celebrate Life with our veterans is our chance to say thank you to our military men and women and honor the heroes who have made sacrifices for so many of us.”
Jones said he believes Stillinger Family Funeral Home’s Celebrate Life campaign gives people a positive perspective.
“They see both sides of life, and they know how important it is to cherish everyday moments,” Jones said.
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“Lest They Be Forgotten” – documentary about Omaha Beach
6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10
H. J. Ricks Centre for the Arts, 122 W. Main St., Greenfield
Admission is free and open to the public
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