Selma VFW hosts ceremony to honor local veterans, remind community that ‘freedom is not free’

The morning of Memorial Day local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3016 hosted its annual ceremony to honor the men and women from Selma and Dallas County who died in service to our country.  

“We are gathered here today to honor our veteran dead from all wars no matter the race, color, creed or gender, for their blood was as red as yours and mine,” Post Commander Dennis Doherty said at the ceremony at Memorial Stadium. “They all gave their lives for this country so that you and I may enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today.” 

The Boy Scouts presented the colors and Tiffany Shakespeare, president of the Montgomery Alpha Kappa Chapter of Kappa Epsilon Psi Inc., led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Doherty thanked Chris Mims of Spire Energy for helping the eternal flame at the top of the World War II memorial continue to burn. 

Keynote speaker Sgt. Maj. Monica R. Walker spoke on the importance of giving back. Walker, a Montgomery native, serves as the Joint Force Headquarters Alabama Human Resources Policy. She has been deployed twice to Baghdad, Iraq in 2009 and 2010 and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in 2021 and 2022. 

“Memorial Day is a powerful reminder that freedom is not free,” Walker said. “We must consider how we can honor their legacy through our acts.”  

The first way to remember these heroes is to support the families of veterans. “These families have endured unimaginable loss and deserve our unwavering support,” Walker said. She said a good way to do so is to support organizations that provide financial, medical and psychiatric help to the families of veterans. 

The second way to memorialize fallen heroes is by “engaging in acts of service in our community” by volunteering at local veteran organizations, helping with community cleanups, and maintaining memorial sites. 

Walker’s third way to give back is to advocate on behalf of veterans and their families by “championing causes such as improved health care, mental health services and educational opportunities.”  

We should preserve the legacy of our fallen by “educating future generations about sacrifice and the significance of Memorial Day and the sacrifices it represents.”  

Finally, simply say, “thank you,” Walker said. Reach out to veterans and active-duty service members in your community and express gratitude.  

Doherty reminded the crowd that, “This monument represents the resting places of many departed comrades who served in all wars. Wherever the body of a comrade lies, there the ground is hallow. Our presence here is in solemn commemoration of all these men and women.” 

He added, “By their service on land on the sea and in the air, they have made us their debtors, for the flag of a free nation still flies over this land.”  

After a prayer, wreaths were laid at the foot of the Memorial Monument by leaders of various groups. “We offer solemn tribute to our fallen comrades wherever they may rest,” Doherty said. 

The ceremony ended with bugler Rod Stone playing “Taps.”