By Sarah Mahan

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Residents who wish to attend an event held in honor of America’s fallen service personnel have options this Memorial Day.

Selma’s American Legion Auxiliary, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the city of Selma are all hosting Memorial Day events on Monday to honor the nation’s fallen soldiers.

Prior to both the city of Selma and VFW’s events, the local American Legion Auxiliary will hold a public flag raising ceremony at their memorial in the New Live Oak Cemetery at 9 a.m.

The VFW’s Memorial Day service, held at 11 a.m. in front of Memorial Stadium, will include a message from guest speaker Mike Stokes, followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers at the foot of the war monument dedicated to local fallen soldiers.

“It’s free and open to the public, and we encourage as many people as possible to come out,” Dennis Doherty, senior commander of Selma’s VFW Post 3016, said. “We love seeing people at the ceremony.”

Selma’s Moment of Remembrance Ceremony will begin at 2:35 p.m. in front of Selma City Hall.

Multiple speakers, including Selma Mayor George Evans, Valley Grande Mayor Wayne Labbe, Orrville Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin and Probate Judge Kim Ballard, will address the crowd before reading the names of local service members who died serving the country and the moment of silence.

During last year’s event, the list included 140 fallen soldiers: 43 died fighting in World War I, 79 died in World War II, six in the Korean War, 11 in the Vietnam War and one in Afghanistan, according to numbers provided by the Selma mayor’s office.

Following the reading, a musical tribute by Ken Schroeder will precede the moment of silence.

Rayburn Hill, the master of ceremonies for the VFW Memorial Day event and the commander of Post 3016, explained why hosting and attending a Memorial Day event is important to the community.

“We do this every year in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price,” Hill, said. “We are here because of [our soldier’s] sacrifice. This is a way to honor them.”