Veterans Day service in Selma honors area's large number who served in the military

A large crowd of veterans and civilians gathered to honor those who have taken the oath to defend and protect the United States at the annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Memorial Stadium Monday, Nov. 11. 

The event was hosted by Selma’s American Legion Post 20.  

The first thing master of ceremonies, 1st Army Captain Jonathan Brown, did was to recognize Selma’s “newest veteran, Layla Boswell, a student at Elwood Christian Academy.”  

The Southside High School Air Force Jr. ROTC posted the colors, and a choir made up of students from R.B. Hudson and Selma High School, under the direction of Christie Bryan, sang the National Anthem. 

After an invocation, the anthem for each branch of the military was played asveterans of each stood and were recognized. 

Brown then introduced the special guest speaker, Aaron Roper, “a distinguished military veteran with over 20 years of service, retiring as a first sergeant in the United States Army.” In those two decades, Roper saw six combat deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. He also said Roper served in some of the Army’s most elite units. 

Roper has also served as Selma’s tax collector and chief operations officer of the local Edmundite Mission. He is chief financial officer for local VFW post 3016, and he founded the Vets helping Vets organization. 

During his talk, Roper said he was known for giving people assignments, so he gave the crowd an assignment. That is to answer the question, “Why are we here?”  

Roper offered an answer to the question he posed. “We’re here because countless men and women we know and don’t know have put service before self and made sacrifices that preserve our freedom and secure our future. We’re here to honor them not only with our words, but also with our actions.” 

The ceremony is held in front of the Memorial Stone, which Roper said is a call to action as well as a memorial. He reminded everyone that of the 370,000 veterans in the state of Alabama, some 2,200 live in Selma. Roper said it is clear that Selma’s top export “is our people; it’s our talent.” 

“Those who leave here excel and enrich our community when they come back home,” Roper said. "Our veterans come back to Selma because this is where they’re known, where their differences are respected, where their potential is actually encouraged.”  

He said to the veterans, “You are the now.” As for the young people, “You are the next.”  

We will call on the youth because we need to “bridge the gap between these generations through access to healthcare, education, affordable housing, entertainment, mental health services, more courage and more importantly love and understanding.” 

Roper called on the crowd to show a deeper commitment and gratitude to veterans. He asked the crowed to ensure that “Selma remains a place where veterans are honored, supported and empowered to continue their legacy of service.” 

Roper recognized those who were drafted because they did not get a choice about serving. He then recognized those who chose to enlist. He explained that the hand salute is “the ultimate respect shared from soldier to soldier.”He asked everyone to salutethe people next to them. 

Wreaths were laid at the stone memorial in honor of veterans, and taps was played in honor of POW/MIAs who have not yet come home. 

From all of us at Selma Sun and Black Belt News Network, thank you for your service to our country and to us.