By Alaina Denean Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

The annual Veterans Day program held by the Selma American Legion Post 20 will be held Friday, Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m. at Memorial Stadium.

“Our veterans have done so much for us across the years. They have insured that we have the freedoms that we enjoy in our country today,” said John Coon, post adjunct.  “They’ve spent many months and days in places that a lot of other people have not gone, they’ve done things that other people would not do in devoting their life to serving their country.”

The guest speaker at the service will be Colonel Thad Mauldin, U.S. Air Force retired. Mauldin is a native of Selma, and a 1960 graduate of Albert G. Parrish High School.

“We’re honored to have Colonel Mauldin available to come speak to us on this occasion,” Coon said.

The Selma Rotary Club will also be on hand to serve a light lunch.

“The small thing that the Rotary is doing for the veterans, I think will mean so much to them on Friday,” said Armelia Oliver, president of the Selma Rotary Club.

“We support the veterans because we have such a high respect … for their contributions that they have made to society as a service member, demonstrating their courage, their conviction, to whom they serve.”

Oliver said she feels that it is important that the community support veterans.

“I think it is highly important, because in so many situations, there are so many times that the contributions that they have made to society are so often overlooked,” Oliver said. “I just encourage the community to surround and support the veterans for what they do.”

Coon said he always looks forward to Nov. 11 and the ceremony to honor the many veterans of Selma and Dallas County.

“I look forward to it every year,” Coon said. “I think the people in Selma look forward to it every year. We just encourage all veterans and their family members and the community to come out and be a part of this ceremony.”