Veterans Community Fair set for Jan. 29 at Selma VFW post

Local veterans and their families will have a rare opportunity to connect directly with Veterans Affairs staff, health professionals and benefit specialists when the Selma Veterans of Foreign Wars post hosts a Veterans Community Fair on Thursday, Jan. 29. 

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VFW building located at 299 Kings Bend Road. Aaron Roper, the post’s financial officer and a 20-year U.S. Army veteran with multiple overseas deployments, said the doors will remain open “until the last veteran gets served.” 

Roper, who is also the founder of Vets Helping Vets in Selma, explained that the goal is to bring essential services closer to veterans in rural communities.

“We want to invite the entire community out to our local VFW,” Roper said. “Transportation can be a challenge here, so the Montgomery VA is coming to Selma to make sure veterans have access to the benefits they’ve earned.” 

The fair will feature numerous services including, on-site VA health care enrollment, and health screenings and information. Vendors will also help with housing, grants and benefits, and specialists will answer questions about VA home loans. There will be a dedicated Q&A session for veterans and their families.  

Roper said the event will highlight both well-known and lesser-known benefits available to veterans. One example he shared is the Armed Forces Vacation Club, which offers eligible veterans a seven-night resort stay for $499 at destinations around the world. 

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“These are the types of benefits many veterans don’t even know they have,” he said. “We want to make sure every veteran and every family member understands what’s available to them.” 

Representatives from multiple departments within the Montgomery VA will be on hand throughout the day to answer questions and help veterans navigate enrollment, benefits and services. 

Roper emphasized that the fair is open to all veterans, spouses, caregivers and younger family members who want to learn more about available support. 

“We’re going to work hard to deliver,” he said. “If a veteran has a question, we want to be able to answer it.” 

The Veterans Community Fair is free and open to the public.