MARION, Ill. -- Mayor Absher of Marion recognized a local war veteran for his work preserving the history of the city.Â
Sam Lattuca received the 2023 Mayor's Service Award on January 19 at The Pavilion in Marion. Lattuca has dedicated countless years to curating information for the Williamson County Historical Society.Â
"After [my] retirement in 2011, I became interested in establishing a website that accumulates facts and findings related to Marion, its history and its people so that information about Marion and its past could be searched in one place," wrote Lattuca. "This is an effort that I continue to work on to this day."
Lattuca is a proud Marion native. After his graduation from Marion High School in 1965, he spent time in the Air Force and fighting in the Vietnam War. He returned to Marion after the war and worked in electronics.Â
The work of Lattuca post-retirement has been curated on the Marion Illinois History Preservation . His work has received much praise from residents and city officials alike.Â
"His work in preserving Marion's history provides a valuable resource for current and future generations," said the city in a statement on . "We cannot chart our path forward, without knowing where we have been and who has got us to where we are."
More of Lattuca's work is on display at the Williamson County Illinois Historical Society on 105 S. Van Buren Street in Marion.Â
