The Dillon County Veteran of the Year Organization (DCVOYO) announces its lineup for the Veterans Day patriotic program on 11/11/2023 at 11 a.m. at Veterans Square located at 401 West Main Street. DCVOYO Acting Commander Lloyd Brown will begin the program at 11 a.m. welcoming all active-duty military and Veterans, their families, and members of the community:
AGENDA
• Posting of the Colors by DHS JROTC
• Invocation by Rev Dr. James Orr of Pyerian Baptist Church
• National Anthem by Jade McDowell of the Outreach Family Fellowship choir
• Pledge of Allegiance by Ashton Hazelden of Boys State 2023
• Patriotic Speaker Army First Lieutenant Christopher J. Zeller
• Wreath Ceremony at Memorial Wall
• Special Recognition of Dillon County Help for Veterans Organization
• Dillon Conty 2023 Veteran of the Year Announced
• Retiring of the Colors by DHS JROTC
• Benediction by Rev. Dr. James Orr of Pyerian Baptist Church
• Refreshments afterwards by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32
SPEAKER
Army First Lieutenant Christopher J. Zeller is a native of Huntingdon, England, and is currently the Commanding Officer for the 1226th and 1227th Engineer Detachments in Batesburg, SC.
His responsibilities include planning and executing constructions missions throughout the state, while maintaining over 90 personnel and 5 million dollars’ worth of construction equipment.
1LT Zeller’s most recent assignment was serving as the Reconnaissance Officer in the 122nd Engineer Battalion.
1LT Zeller received his commission as an Engineer Officer from SC Palmetto Military Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from The Citadel and is currently going to Liberty University to complete his master’s in science in Homeland Security and Disaster Management.
For his civilian job 1LT Zeller works as a Police Officer in the patrol division for the City of Dillon and is the Team Leader for the department’s Special Response Team.
On this Veterans Day, men and women of Dillon County are actively serving in the military both at home and abroad defending those same freedoms so many others from our community have done since before the founding of Dillon County.
On November 11th, we come together as a community to once again honor our Veterans for their service to America in the United States military.
Whereas Veterans Day is on a Saturday this year, the DCVOYO encourages our young people to attend, and those who have the day off from work to attend.
It is always encouraging to our Veterans when the community takes time to attend Veterans Day and other patriotic programs honoring our active-duty forces and Veterans. The memorial wreath honoring our Veterans will be placed at the Veterans Square Memorial Wall that bears the names of 92 Dillon County Veterans who died serving America. Some of their families will be attending and many of our Veterans will be attending.
Please join us on Saturday, November 11th at 11 a.m. to honor and celebrate our Veterans and the freedoms these men and women defend for America. Refreshments following our patriotic program will be provided by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32. We at the DCVOYO thank you for your past and continued support of Dillon County Veterans.
