Hundreds of family, friends and members of the Plum City community are remembering their own hometown heroes this Memorial Day in a special way.

A new memorial honors the lives of three Plum City High School graduates, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It was a Memorial Day dedication ceremony fit for a hero in Plum City.

Full military honors, a musical tribute and speeches from community and state leaders marked the dedication of a new memorial to honor the lives of three men, who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"We will not mourn their deaths," said Pierce County Veteran Service Officer Merlin Blaisdell. "We will celebrate the life they gave us."

Three granite benches stand outside the Plum City schools to celebrate the lives of Army Private First Class Richard Carlson, Army Private First Class Patrick Carroll, who served in Vietnam, and Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class Trevor Diesing, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"It's really a reminder to the community, and it's a legacy of the soldiers who were here, the gifts they gave us, and the sacrifices they made for us," said Plum City Schools Superintendent Todd LeRoy.

"Dedication of memorials like this serve as a constant reminder freedom is not free," said Congressman Ron Kind of Wisconsin's Third District.

And for the families of the men, a tangible and lasting way to honor their loved ones.

"It's an honor they're doing this for him," said John Carlson, brother of Army Private First Class Richard Carlson. " We understand he gave his life for his country."

It's been 39 years since Patrick Carroll was killed in Vietnam.

Now, thanks to an anonymous donor who proposed the idea for this tribute and gave the money to build it, all of Carroll's 11 living brothers and sisters will have something more than a glass case of pictures, to remember him by.

"We didn't want to split up the display," said Vicki Samuelson, Carroll's sister. "We didn't want each one to take something. It's just a beautiful honor and tribute. I wish we knew who did it."

Plum City Superintendent Todd LeRoy says it's something that will unite the small community of just over 600 for years to come.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the community, for the region, to show their feelings and thanks for what the men did for us," LeRoy said.