Houk will deliver a Memorial Day message

Lloyd Houk sums up his Memorial Day message in three words: serve, honor and remember. The 74-year-old Army veteran is expected to be the keynote speaker at the American Legion’s memorial service in Iola.

“My prayer is that people leave the service thinking, ‘I need to be more part of the American dream,’” Houk said. “It’s a sacrifice that was made.”

Houk knows sacrifice well, having served in the Vietnam War. “I served in the 25th Medical Battalion in Vietnam,” he noted. He has been a member of the American Legion for over 50 years.

Born and raised in Moran, Houk describes music and faith as his “therapy” over the years. Combining the two, he served as chaplain for many of those years. “I was the state chaplain of the American Legion for 10 years when I left the military in 1985,” he said. “I kind of held on to that title.”

He has worked at Moran Funeral Home since he was 15 years old. “I have worked with Reuben at Feuerborn Funeral Service since he purchased the funeral home here in Iola,” he added. “I love serving people.”

Houk travels extensively on weekends, filling church pulpits and having the opportunity to share his musical talent. He has been playing the piano since a young age and began lessons at the age of 10. Houk describes music and performing as his “quiet space.”

For many years, Houk performed with a band called Three Rusty Nails, playing notable venues including the Jim Stafford Theater in Branson, Missouri, and Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri.

“We had a lot of fun.”

He has been married to his wife Nancy for 51 years as of last December. They were both named City Marshals for the Farm City Days parade in 2022. The couple has two children, son Anthony and daughter Andrea. Anthony lives in Parsons and is the head basketball coach, while Andrea lives in Humboldt and works in radiology. He and Nancy have seven grandchildren.

Houk hopes community members will attend the 11 a.m. Memorial Day service Monday in the veterans section of Highland Cemetery, 1800 N. Cottonwood, in Iola.

“I hope people will come and hear the message about service, honor and remembrance,” he said. He added that he wanted to relay the message of sacrifice, which makes America “the free country that we live in.”