Selma played host to several distinguished individuals Tuesday who made their way to a meet and greet with the men and women serving in the Army Medical Corps.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Delta Regional Authority Director Chris Masingill, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard and several mayors across the Black Belt attended.

The Army Medical Corps have been providing free basic health care to the citizens of Selma, Demopolis and Camden for more than a week.

To thank the Corps for their service, Selma Mayor George Evans’ office held a breakfast followed by a tour of the makeshift medical facilities.

“It’s truly just been just a remarkable program with doctors and teams that can administer certain care that’s second to none,” Evans said. “I’m thankful for the military reserve program for doing this.”

Evans said the program is something that Selma needs.

“Words can’t express how much I feel this helps those have needs that they couldn’t get [met] otherwise, and they can get it all at no cost,” Evans said.

Col. Regina Powell was in attendance Tuesday and said she has enjoyed her time in the Black Belt while overseeing all three sites.

“We’re honored and we’re humbled and it’s truly a blessing to be able to give back to citizens of the United States of America, especially in communities where they do not have a lot of resources,” Powell said. “I just wanted to thank everyone from Selma, Demopolis and Camden, the mayor’s staff, the citizens, the police chief, all the people that made this event successful.”

Sewell spoke at the event thanking all of the members for their service and expressing the need for health care in the Black Belt region.

“It’s an amazing partnership with the Delta Regional Authority with the Department of Defense for this innovative, readiness training. Health care clinics are an opportunity to train, but at the same time offer invaluable services to our constituents,” Sewell said. “I know that one of the biggest challenges facing the 7th Congressional District is often access to quality affordable health care … We work very hard here in the Black Belt to try to close the health care disparity gap and this effort will just help us all the more to do that.”

Brigadier General Mary Link, deputy commanding general of army reserve medical command, issued a challenge to the mayors and other city officials and said working along side them and serving the communities has been a blessing.

“Just being able to provide care to our fellow Americans is just a true honor for all of us,” Link said. “We’re here for only two weeks, so what I challenge the leaders of these communities to do is to maintain the enthusiasm for the medical care for your citizens, to make sure that it doesn’t fall back off again.”

The Army Medical Corps will continue to offer medical services every day through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the George P. Evans building on Lawerence Street near the Alabama River. For more information, call 874-2101.