WELDON SPRINGS, Mo–On this memorial day, the community will come together to pay their respects to a fallen U.S. marine.
A special ceremony is planned today to honor marine sergeant Colin Arslanbas
and all who have served our country at Veterans Tribute Park in Weldon Springs
The remains of marine Sergeant Arslanbas were escorted home earlier this month to St. Charles County.
Sergeant Arslanbas was a Fort Zumwalt West graduate who tragically lost his life last month during a training exercise in North Carolina.
Arslanbas’ name has been added to the memorial wall here at Veterans Tribute Park, which recognizes veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The park will also host an event featuring live music and heartfelt speeches dedicated to those who served our country.
Among the speakers will be Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, an army combat veteran and Mark Schmitz, the father of marine lance corporal Jared Schmitz, who was killed during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“It’s a different experience to be on this side but I can tell everyone your being here is definitely means something and it definitely will be noticed by the family,” Schmitz said. “It makes this a little bit easier to embrace for sure just to know that the community cares.”
The ceremony will be held at the park’s Veterans Memorial Plaza and garden area at 1 p.m. this afternoon.
