The City of Butler will honor one of its fallen soldiers Saturday.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, the shelter at Institute Hill Playground will be dedicated to Butler native Victor Thomas Rikal Sr.

Rikal was one of 74 Americans killed aboard the USS Frank E. Evans in the South China Sea in the early morning hours of June 3, 1969. The destroyer collided with an Australian aircraft carrier, the HMAS Melbourne, and was cut in half.

Rikal was on watch at the combat information center at the time of the collision. He was 23.

“This is to kind of remind people of what sacrifices have been made by families in our area,” said Butler Mayor Tom Donaldson. “This is a big deal; it’s really important. People should never forget.”

Donaldson will issue a proclamation that Saturday is to be Victor Thomas Rikal Day in Butler.

“We are so honored and grateful for recognition from our hometown,” said Barbara Rikal, Victor’s widow. “It’s been 47 years, soon to be 48 here (since he died). It’s been a long time coming, and we’d like to mention all of the 74 American boys that were lost that night.”

Barbara Rikal remembers her husband fondly.

“He was really a great friend, and he loved his family very much and had quite a sense of humor,” she said.

Victor Rikal grew up on Reo Street in Butler, very close to the playground. Barbara Rikal said he played there quite often growing up.

As an adult, Victor Rikal could be found hanging out with his best friend, Jack Heist, at Fisher’s Sunoco Station every night, where he would call Barbara at 7 p.m. He also had a son, Victor Jr., and worked at Pullman Standard building railroad cars.

Saturday’s dedication will include members of Bantam Marine Corp. League 743, American Legion Post 117 and 778, American Legion Riders 117 and VFW Post 249. There also will be a 21 gun salute.

Ed Holsopple of the Frank E. Evans Association, who was on the destroyer for 2½ years, is coming from Johnstown, for the dedication.

He met Barbara Rikal and other members of Thomas Rikal’s family during a dedication in Johnstown in 2014. “All of us are family now,” Holsopple said. “Once you’re in the Frank E. Evans Association, you’re part of the family, and we’ve all become very close.”