This year's guest speaker at Hartley's Memorial Day services comes with an extensive background in both the military and American Legion.

David Honse, of Rock Valley, grew up mostly in Rolla, Mo., where he completed high school. In 1983 at age 17, he enlisted in the Missouri National Guard as a 12C Ribbon Bridge Specialist and later entered into regular Army service in 1987 as a 12B Combat Engineer.

Honse served with the 20th Engineer Battalion stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky., until the spring of 1990. In May of 1990 he was transferred to Germany to serve with the 54th Engineer Battalion i...