Murchison officials have scheduled a ceremony at City Hall Tuesday to honor an Athens native who died more than 40 years ago during a battle between U.S. Army soldiers and the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army.

"We take great pride in the fact that many of us had the opportunity to know and love Gary Everett and appreciate his sacrifice as he served his country," a press release said.

"This posthumous award from the City of Murchison is presented to Gary's mother, Mrs. Christine Everett. We believe that our memories of Gary Everett best represent our community's contribution to a special and unique Veterans Day memorial."

The Army veteran, a PFC with B Company, 4th Batallion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, was killed on Dec. 22, 1948, in Mole City, Tay Ninh, in South Vietnam.

He was among 16 other American soldiers to lose their lives that night during + an attack on a U.S. support base near the Cambodian border.

Gary Everett was 20 years old.

"I miss you even after all these years," an online memorial from an unidentified friend says. "You were like an older brother to me. You were such a wonderful young man, brave, and all that is good in America's finest men. I joined the Air Force when I grew up in part because of your example, and I wanted to serve our country and to help protect our freedom."

To view the online memorial and others, visit virtualwall.org/de/0e.htm.

The ceremony Wednesday is scheduled for 9 a.m.