This Friday evening, Veterans Park in Dell Rapids will serve as the host site to honor its namesake, as luminaries and reflections will populate “Lighting the Night,” an event to recognize military members’ sacrifices.

The event will begin this Friday at about 7 p.m. The program will include the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, the playing of “Taps” and featured speaker 2nd Lieutenant Shane Skinner.

Luminaries will also be lit and personalized to recognize veterans, as well as active duty, reserves and present service members, for the “ultimate sacrifice.”

“It’s just a time of quiet and reflection,” event organizer Teresa Huntimer said. “I don’t think people realize how many veterans there are here in town.”

The planner encourages people to contact her about personalizing a luminary. She said that interested participants can call (428-3549) or email (thuntimer@gmail.com) her to pick up bags at her home, 107 E. Fourth Street, or she is willing to prepare the bags herself.

Huntimer hoped that using Veterans Park, at the intersection of Fourth Street and Old Highway 77, would be a positive way to utilize the space for its intended purpose.

“What a great way to use it to honor the veterans that its for,” she said.

Fostering pride in relatives and friends who have been involved in the military is what Huntimer hopes to accomplish through the program. She said that the response so far for luminary requests has been positive, garnering calls from all over the country. The organizer stressed that honorees can include any that have served in the military, not restricted to Dell Rapids residents.

Lighting the Night, which is a first-time event, will ideally continue annually, according to Huntimer. She hopes that it can become a tradition to keep in mind the work that service members have done and are doing.