Thursday’s Veterans Day program at Bloch Park will be highlighted by Selma’s own retired Gen. Frank Speed.

Johnny Jones, who will emcee the event, said Speed is a highly accomplished officer in the military.

“He is a resident of the Southside community,” he said. “He has a pretty lengthy list of accomplishments and he spent a lot of his time right here in Selma.”

Speed served as deputy commander for the 167th Theater Support Command in Birmingham. In this assignment, he oversaw the Support Operations Section and assisted the commander in all areas of responsibility.

Speed began his military career in July 1969 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserve. He later transferred to the Alabama National Guard where he received his commission through the Alabama Military Academy Officer Candidate School in June of 1975.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, an Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with a bronze Hourglass, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 6.

The program will begin at 10 with Patriotic music, followed by the welcome at 10:30 a.m.

The Selma high School ROTC will present drills at 10:30 a.m. and singer Katie Wendland will perform at 10:50 a.m.

Speed will speak at 11 a.m. followed by a tribute to deceased veterans and the placement of wreaths.

The program will close with a flag folding ceremony.