SALEM — The sacrifices of a family of brothers in the name of freedom during the Second World War and beyond will be honored Thursday.

A special ceremony will be held at the Memorial Building at 4 p.m. Thursday honoring the service of the Trimmer brothers during World War II as part of the National Brothers in Arms Storytelling Tour. The ceremony will be attended by Margaret White Paxson, whose six older brothers all made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. According to a press release, five of her brothers Charles, William, Paul, Stanton, and Earl served during World War II “with Stanton and Earl tragically dying just nine days and 50 miles apart in September 1944.” The Trimmer family’s service, and sacrifice, continued with Paxson who was killed in action during the Korean War in 1950.

“Together, these brothers represent a legacy of service that exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice for freedom,” reads the release.

The ceremony will also include an exhibit “showcasing over 700 historical photographs, battlefield artifacts, and first-hand accounts from the Brothers in Arms collection.” The exhibit’s focus on the Trimmer brothers will include both stories from their military service, and personal reflections shared by their family members in attendance.

The Brothers in Arms Storytelling Tour was created by historian and author Kevin M. Callahan in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission and “honors the memory of more than 700 sets of American brothers who fought and died together during WWII and are now buried side by side in U.S. military cemeteries overseas.” The exhibit serves as a reminder of “the tangible human cost of war and the enduring bond of brotherhood that defined the experiences of American soldiers,” during World War II whose story Callahan was inspired to share by a visit to the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, “where he witnessed the graves of two brothers buried side by side … whose sacrifices are often remembered only within their families.”

“The brothers who served in WWII are true American heroes. This exhibit is an opportunity to bring their stories into the national consciousness. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten,” said Callahan.

The ceremony and exhibit are open to the public and free to attend.