Co-workers and friends of 1st Lt. Leevi Khole Barnard, who was killed Thursday while serving in Iraq, will gather this afternoon at Becky’s Glassworks on Andy Griffith Highway to honor the fallen soldier.

Barnard’s grandmother, Becky Gordon, owns the shop, said Dianne Orr, store manager.

The ceremony will consist of store employees, friends, and anyone else from the community who wishes to attend, gathering in the parking lot where they will lower the flag, then raise it to half-staff.

“He is Becky Gordon’s grandson, an employee of Becky’s Glass, and he was a good friend of a lot of people there and we just want to honor him,” Orr said of the ceremony. “There are people here who were also soldiers, who were in the military, who worked with him, and they want to honor him as a soldier and a friend.

“(Today) is a time we honor soldiers who gave their life for their country. He meant a lot to all of us, as a grandson, as a friend, and as a soldier. This is just a little remembrance we want to do. We’re a very small group, but we’re a close-knit family. This is just a spur of the moment thing, but this is something we feel like we had to do for him...we want people to remember him as a fallen soldier.”

She said members of the community who wish to observe the ceremony are welcome to attend.