FALCONER — The Levant Wesleyan Church will be hosting a picnic dinner July 24 at its campus, 1670 Lindquist Drive (at Route 394), in Falconer.

This dinner is open to all veterans and active duty military personnel and their families. The purpose of the event is to honor our veterans and active duty military personnel and to pray for them and the nation.

The menu will consist of hot dogs, potato rolls, potato and macaroni salad, chips and soft drinks. Games will be provided for children by the Levant Church youth group. Nursery service will be available for children under four years of age. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with children’s events and adult socialization immediately thereafter. At 7 p.m., guest speaker, Eric Hamilton — a combat marine veteran of operation Iraqi Freedom — will relate his military and combat activities, as well as his current life goals.

Although Hamilton’s unit was Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, he also served in both India and Lima companies. He predominately served in Al Anbar Province (the Wild West), with Lima company during its seven month deployment in 2005-2006. This unit, which suffered 48 killed-in-action and 60 wounded-in-action, was named by Military Times, NPR, and ABC News as “The Hardest Hit Military Unit in the Iraqi War” (up to that time). In 2006, A&E Films produced the documentary “Combat Diary: The Marines of Lima Company.”

Hamilton currently worships at REALIFE Church in Jamestown, where he is the leader of the Teen Ministry. He is attending Northeastern Seminary in Rochester and is matriculated into the Master of Divinity program.

Any veterans or active duty personnel planning to take part should call 708-6215 and give the church office the number of adults and children who will be attending.