EVANS CITY — For 85 years, the citizens here have honored their loved ones, friends and neighbors who have paid the ultimate sacrifice during times of war, and this Memorial Day will be no different.

Dean McMillen, commander of the Evans City American Legion and this year’s Butler County Veteran of the Year, has arranged the borough’s traditional Memorial Day ceremony for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Evans City Cemetery on Franklin Road.

The public must bring their own seating for the hourlong event. In case of rain, it will be held at the Evans City Elementary/Middle School.

McMillen said soloist Michelle Lazzo will sing the national anthem to start the ceremony, and Pastor Tom Clyde of Westminster United Presbyterian Church will give the benediction.

Speakers will include County Court Judge Tim McCune, who will talk about a mentor program for veterans who have gone through the courts system; former Evans City Mayor Gary Foster, who will recite a Memorial Day poem; and Evans City veteran Homer Mercer, who will recite the poem “This Day is Sacred.”

The Seneca Valley JROTC will present and retire the colors and fire a gun salute to commemorate the service of the 11 veterans buried in the cemetery.

“Three are from World War II and the rest are from the Korean War,” said McMillen, who is a veteran of the Korean War.

The Evans City Middle School’s sixth grade band will perform patriotic songs.

McMillen will read aloud the names of the cemetery’s veterans, and a wreath will be placed on the 19-foot tall Veterans Monument.

The monument, which was rededicated in 1985 after being damaged by tornadoes, was built to memorialize veterans from Jackson, Forward, Connoquenessing, Lancaster, Cranberry, Adams, Middlesex and Penn townships, McMillen said.

The JROTC cadets will place a flag at the grave of each war veteran, and veteran Harry Schaffer of the Evans City American Legion will offer a tribute to all veterans.

Choir members representing four churches will sing two patriotic songs.

McMillen, 86, said the time he spends lining up speakers, music and the JROTC is worth it.

“It’s nice to carry on the tradition, and certainly I greatly favor those who have given their lives for our country,” McMillen said.