DAPHNE — Veteran Charles L. Gay will be the featured speaker at a Memorial Day service slated Sunday, 2 p.m., at the Old Methodist Church Museum.

Mayor Fred Small will host the service.

City assistance is an important part of making this event a success, said organizer Mickey Boykin. She said city workers put up a tent on the church lawn for the service.

“And it’s partly due to the setting — that we’re able to have this ceremony in such a historic place — which helps make it so special,” Boykin said.

Civil War veterans, both Confederate and Union, are buried at the historic church’s cemetery, she said.

There’s also a memorial rock with an engraved plaque of the names of Daphne military members who’ve lost their lives in the service, Boykin said.

This marks the fifth year for the annual event and a large crowd usually attends, she said.

“We usually set up for 100 people and we’ve not been disappointed. Even the year we had a really horrible rainy day, the people still came out for this,” she said.

“Especially since it is supposed to be a nice, sunny weekend, we’re looking for a good crowd,” Boykin said.

She said local folks look forward to the speakers at this event.

“It’s a very moving experience. We think it is important to honor those men and women who serve our country, while we are at home enjoying our freedom.”

Gay, a Daphne resident, first joined the Army Air Corps while he was still in college in 1942.

The next year, he was called into active service and began pilot training.

In 1944, he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant with the 8th Air Force and entered B-17 flight training.

After receiving his training, Gay was stationed in Chelveston, England, with the 8th Air Force whose mission was the “daylight precision high-altitude bombing of war production facilities in Germany,” according to a news release previewing Sunday’s ceremony.

“After completing 37 combat missions and earning several medals, he returned to the United States for fighter pilot transitional training with the goal of continuing his military service in the war with Japan,” the news release continued.

“However, before he completed his training, Japan surrendered, thus ending World War II.”

Following the war, Gay earned his college degree.

He is currently active in the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the 305th Bomb Group and the American Legion.

Along with his wife, Dea, he has three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Refreshments will be served following the service.

The museum will also be open for touring by the public.

It is located at 405 Dryer Ave.

Due to limited parking near the museum, transportation will be provided from Christ the King Church parking lot at the corner of Main Street and Dryer Avenue.