On Friday, the mall is set to host its second Veterans Appreciation Day at 6 p.m. on Friday. The public is invited.

Layton Hills Mall Marketing and Community Engagement Manager Glady Larsen told the Standard-Examiner that the event is very fitting for the area.

“We are so excited to be able to have that event because it’s our opportunity to honor those that have served,” she said. “Our community is so close to Hill Air Force Base that we naturally have them as part of our family. A lot of the military community is part of those that come to Layton Hills Mall all the time, and what better opportunity for us to be able to say thank you to them? I don’t think we can say thanks enough.”

She said that the digital Veterans Honor Wall will be making a return during Friday’s ceremony.

“The display is something that we did last year, and it is a digital display that will have the names of those who have served,” she said. “It actually is for all service members in all of the different military branches. That display has the opportunity for people to submit names.”

According to a press release on the Friday event, the full list of activities will include:

• Presentation of colors by the Utah Military Academy
• Remarks from Layton Mayor Joy Petro; Operation Hero Founder Antionette Stapley; community leaders; and veteran-serving organizations
• Unveiling of the Veterans Honor Wall, a digital display celebrating local veterans
• Patriotic-themed kids’ crafts and family activities
• Recruiters from multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces available to connect with attendees

Larsen said the Veterans Honor Wall will be displayed through Veterans Day next week, noting that seeing it last year for the first time was a major learning experience.

“It was such a humble experience to be able to see the number of community members that are part of the veterans display,” she said. “One of the things that I found is that there were so many people in our community that that is where their story began as a member of the military. It’s not just their military career, but their career as they do today. Most of the time, we’re not even aware that this is something that they are experiencing because a lot of people, their military career changes depending on the person. Some people make it their identity. Some people, it’s just an opportunity for them to get to the career that they will do for the rest of their lives.

“I think what I learned the most is that each and every story was such a great opportunity for us to see the courage and the love that people have for our nation. What a better way for us to share the love that we have for our country than to say thank you to those who stepped up and gave of their time and skills to support our freedom.”

Larsen said the mall is still seeking the names of local veterans to add to the Honor Wall display. For more information on the event and to add a name, visit https://www.shoplaytonhills.com/event/43376-veterans-appreciation-event.