One local organization is working to bring the community and the country’s wounded veterans closer together, and show those veterans how grateful all are for their sacrifices.

The Black Belt Wounded Warrior Association will hold a track and field program June 29 and 30 at Memorial Stadium.

Buddy James, who came up with the idea to host the event, said wounded warriors have competed in games like this amongst themselves all around the country, but the event in Selma will have a first-time twist of getting local children involved in order to show support.

“I got to thinking — because I’m a volunteer track coach and I help out in Wilcox County and Camden — would our kids participate? How would they feel running with our wounded warriors and how would our wounded warriors feel running with them,” James said. “So I contacted some of the people in the military and asked them about it.”

James said he’s visited 18 schools in the past six months to see would children be interested in the event and how they’d feel about running with wounded warriors, some of which are missing limbs, and have artificial limbs.

He said the response has been positive, with student participants coming from Mississippi, Mobile, Pensacola, Fla. and the Selma area.

“The kids just picked up on it,” James said. “They would be showing respect to our veterans, that they appreciate their effort. The freedom that we have today comes at a cost … I look at it as these people are true heroes. If we can help give them purpose to keep going in life, and the kids can help do that … we’ve prevented and held back some of these veterans from giving up hope.”

James said each wounded warrior would serve as team leaders for the children depending on how many children participate, but he added it’s not about winning and losing.

“As far as I’m concerned, everyone’s a winner,” James said. “We’re not running to see who’s number one or number two or number three. We’re running for the honor just to participate and to show that we care.”

James said military officials agreed to send wounded veterans looking to participate to the event, and that if this “pilot program” is successful, it’s something he hopes will not only become an annual event in Selma, but something that will be done around the country to show wounded veterans how much the community cares.

All children interested in participating in the event are welcome.

For more information, contact James at 850-501-5868 or dbjames@frontier.com, or contact John Matthews at 334-682-5012 or jlmatthews@frontier.net.