On Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day program will be held at Memorial Stadium to honor the brave men and women who have served this country.

The community event is hosted by the American Legion. Veterans Day is always on Nov. 11, marking the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

The day was known as Armistice Day and later become a national holiday before being renamed Veterans Day to honor all who have served.

Veteran day program coordinator Jesus Sanchez said the program has grown every year and that about 300 people attended in 2014.

“It’s been getting better and better every year,” Sanchez said. “We try to bring a Veterans Day program to all of Selma and give them the opportunity to honor those that have gone before us, who fought and gave their all.”

The Junior ROTC from Selma High School and the ROTC from Concordia College Alabama will be present, along with SGA members and homecoming queens from local schools. General Walter Givan will be speaking during the program.

After the program, the National Commander of the American Legion, Dale Barnett, will be making a stop in Selma. Post 20 and Post 324, both of Selma, are hosting Barnett as he makes his way around Selma laying wreaths at the Lt. John Tillman Melvin monument at the Federal Courthouse, at War Memorials at Memorial Stadium and at the American Legion Memorial in New Live Oak Cemetery.

After the laying of the wreaths, Barnett will visit Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church. Then at 4 p.m., Barnett will participate in a walk for veterans starting at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The walk is meant to raise awareness about issues facing veterans and their families, according to a press release.

“We’re proud that he has selected Selma as one of the places that he would like to visit. We think Selma has a lot of history,” said John Coon, a member of Post 20.

“It’s a real significant event. It’s not every post in the U.S. that will have an opportunity to have the National Commander come visit this year, so it’s just a real honor to have him visit Selma and have him visit our post.”

Barnett will also be presenting six members of Post 20 with certificates for 50 years in the Legion.