KINGSTON – A celebration to be held Wednesday in Kingston will serve two purposes:&160;to celebrate Independence Day and to honor a longtime resident who devoted his life to public service and conservation efforts.

The Happy Birthday America Celebration/Miss-Lou Gala, sponsored by the Miss-Lou Veterans Alliance, is usually held each year on the Fourth of July.

But at this year’s celebration, to be held at the Kingston Community Center near the intersection of Kingston and Upper Kingston roads, will also feature the unveiling of a monument honoring H.B. Drane Sr.

&uot;There will also be testimonials from people who knew him,&uot; said Earl Drane, H.B. Drane Sr.’s son and one of the event’s organizers.

H.B. Drane Sr. spearheaded many conservation efforts, including donating property from Deerfield Plantation to a wildlife management area. He also served on the Board of Supervisors, the Natchez-Adams County School Board and other local boards and committees.

Earl Drane has been working for four years to get the Sandy Creek Wildlife Management Area renamed after his father.

He said a local and private bill to rename the management area is now being considered by Congress &uot;and has a good chance,&uot; according to members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation.

Wednesday’s celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with posting of the colors and the singing of the national anthem. The monument honoring H.B. Drane Sr. will be unveiled at 11 a.m.

Lunch, including an entree of fried catfish, will be served at noon. While the event is free to the public, attendees are asked to bring a vegetable or dessert to go with the meal and to bring their own chairs.