Fenton to Honor Military Sacrifices on Memorial Day

Marine Col. Dan R. Mater grew up in Fenton and attended St. Paul Catholic School and Eureka High School but since then, he's been all over the world.

On Memorial Day, Col. Mater will return to Fenton to be the special guest speaker at an honorarium at the Fenton Heroes Memorial in in a ceremony to recognize the sacrifices made by U.S. military men and women who have fought for our freedom.

The Memorial Day Honorarium begins at 10 a.m. Monday. It is presented by Boy Scout Troop 778 and produced by the City of Fenton Parks and Recreation Department. St. Louis Bread Co., in Fenton, and Brix-Kruse-Grimm Florist are sponsors. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Refreshments will be provided.

Col. Mater has had a distinguished career in the Marine Corps since his commission as an infantry officer in 1977 after receiving a B.A degree from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University. His first command position came in 1997 when he was named commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, Chicago, IL. He has served as senior Marine advisor with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force for Operation Enduring Freedom and then during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. His last post was in Baghdad.

During his career Col. Mater has received numerous medals, citations, decorations and ribbons. After 30 years of active duty, he retired from the Marines in 2007.