Brown Chapel AME Church honored its church founders and Voting Rights Movement foot soldiers during a special service Sunday.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell presented the foot soldiers with a Congressional certificate. They also received a medal from Brown Chapel.

“It is a special day. Today, we pay honor and tribute to the foot soldiers of the movement,” Sewell said.  “In face of major obstacles, you stood up and you stood strong.”

Sewell also updated those in attendance on a bill she sponsored to award the Congressional Gold Medal to 1965 foot soldiers.

The measure passed unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives last week and now goes to the Senate.

The entire Alabama delegation, of which Sewell is the only Democrat, pledged their support of the bill.

“I was more than elated that the entire Alabama delegation signed on with that legislation,” Sewell said. “[The Congressional Gold Medal] is the highest honor that Congress can bestow on civilians.”

Sewell said one medal would be awarded on behalf of all foot soldiers.

“It really is American’s history. It’s been woven in the fabric of our great nation,” Sewell said. “It’s all of us. It’s all of our movement.”

It’s a vision that continues today, she said.

“The march still continues. The dream still continues,” Sewell said.

She also thanked those who paved the way for legal and political career.

“I owe my existence as Alabama’s first black Congresswoman to you,” Sewell told the foot soldiers.

She said the ultimate way to honor foot soldiers’ sacrifice would be to exercise the right to vote every election.

“Exercise our right to vote every time there’s an election — that’s the tribute to the foot soldiers,” Sewell said.