Every year the Thomas R. Mackin American Legion Post 20 honors first responders from Selma and Dallas County.

The annual dinner doesn’t cost anything for the first responders to attend, along with their family, friends and colleagues.

This year, Selma patrol officer Nathan Gibson was honored as the police officer of the year, Dallas County sheriff’s deputy Anthony Scott Haskell was named the sheriff deputy of the year, and Selma Fire Department Sgt. Adam Joseph Courington was named the fireman of the year.

Congratulations to Gibson, Haskell and Courington on their well-deserved awards. This year marked the second time that Gibson has been honored.

Also, the American Legion should be thanked for all the work that goes into a program like this. It’s special to see our veterans honoring those protecting our communities in a different way.