You can recognize your public servants and help them out at the same time.

Memorial Park Funeral Home will hold its 16th annual cookout today to honor public safety officers.

This year’s event includes a fund to benefit those who need help.

"The Gold Shield fund will help local fire and EMS when someone’s been injured on the job or there’s a financial hardship," said Bill Hendrix, public relations director. "We’ll be taking donations on Saturday."

The program will begin at noon and
recognize representatives from each of the county’s agencies.

"It started as a day of recognition for the community and thanking them for their support and has shifted to honoring public servants: fire, EMS, police, sheriffs," Hendrix said. "Now it’s a day of honor for them for what they do for us daily."

Last year’s communitywide event attracted about 5,000 people, and the funeral home expects the same today, if not more.

"The economy has a lot to do with the turnout, I think," he said. "And we provide everything free: hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, barbecue, lots for people to have."

Most of all, the annual event is about partnership in the community.

"We’ve all been worried about Wall Street, and it’s time to get back to Main Street," Hendrix said. "It’s time to talk to people, have that community festive environment, share good laughs and show recognition."