SELMA — Today, patriots will stand together to honor those who have served in the military.

At 11 a.m. at Memorial Stadium, the public is invited to participate in a Veterans Day ceremony.

Veteran Post No. 20 Legionnaire Jesse Sanchez is in charge of organizing this year’s event.

Local high school bands and ROTC units will perform.

The keynote speaker is Col. John Gibler, the director of the Alabama Hall of Honor at the Marion Military Institute.

Memorial wreaths will be placed at the stadium monuments.

In addition Northside Baptist Church will hold a Veterans Memorial Blood Drive from 3 until 7:30 p.m.

The church will also hold a large veterans celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m., which is open to all veterans and their families.

The keynote speaker is retired Air Force Maj. Gen. A. Bowen Ballard, who was assigned to Scott Air Force Base , Ill., where he played a key role in transitioning Air Force Special Operations from Tactical Air Command to Military Airlift Command. He also was involved with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the U.S. European Command for many years.

Ballard serves as senior mentor for the Air Force War College and was directly involved in the War on Terrorism.