With so many American troops still fighting in Iraq, the City of Selma is making sure its citizens have plenty of opportunity to show their support through a grand Independence Day celebration.

The second annual fireworks sky concert will be held at Memorial Stadium; it’s free to the public.

The theme for this year’s celebration will be &uot;Selma Salutes our Armed Forces: Let Freedom Ring.&uot;

Patty Sexton from the Selma Office of Planning and Development said the Alabama Army National Guard Band is the featured guest for the evening and will kick things off with a concert at 7:15 p.m.

Other musical events scheduled to take place include a solo performance, children’s parade, a concert presented by fourth- graders from Cedar Park Elementary and Meadowview Elementary schools, and a band-led patriotic sing-along.

The fireworks program will then begin around dusk.

Veterans of the armed services will be present at the celebration, Sexton says and will be asked to stand as each military flag is raised.

The July 4 fireworks sky concert first began in 2002 as a tribute to local and national defenders of safety during the wake of the previous year’s terrorists attacks.

At this year’s event, two City of Selma employees &045;&045; officer Kenta Fulford of the Selma Police Department and Gregory Jones of the General Services Department &045;&045; will be honored. They are on active duty in Kuwait.

Memorial Stadium gates will open at 7 p.m. and free fans will be given away to help alleviate the evening summer heat.