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Selma residents took time on Monday to pay tribute to the soldiers who gave all to defend the country and for the cause of freedom around the world.

The service, sponsored by the Selma VFW Post 3016, was held outside of Memorial Stadium. The lectern stood in front of the eternal flame atop the World War II memorial that lists all of the Selma and Dallas County residents who fought in what was though to be the war to end all wars.’

VFW Post 3016 Cmdr. Dennis Doherty welcomed the crowd gathered for the memorial service.

“We are gathered here today to honor our veteran dead from all wars, no matter the race, color, creed or gender, for their blood was as red as yours and mine,” Doherty said. “They all gave their lives for this country so that you and I may enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy today.”

Dallas County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy John Hatfield was the keynote speaker for the event. He asked Sheriff Mike Granthum, his family and others what he should tell him to say to the crowd. His response was, “I have no idea.” This is one of the rare times where Hatfield was called on to speak where he wasn’t filling in for Granthum or some other speaker.

But on this Memorial Day, Hatfield wanted the crowd to make sure that the day of remembrance wasn’t just a time for a barbecue or a cookout.

“Today, I want to encourage you as sit here or stand here and to honor the people who died to make sure that we can stand here,” Hatfield said. “I’m reminded of all the flags that’s behind me. Each and every flag behind me reminds me of a person who died in my place or a person who died so I could stand here and talk to you today. A person who died not for fame or fortune, but they died for the person next to them because they were defending them. And at the end of the day, them defending their brother and sister actually defended me where I could stand here today.”

Hatfield quoted a stat that 653,000 Americans have perished in wars. Those persons are what Memorial Day is all about.

“It’s about turning around and looking at a flag and thinking about each one of them flags represent a person who died in on our behalf,” Hatfield said. “Let me encourage you to take today to remember the fallen brothers and sisters because there are stories in each one of us. There are stories that’s been passed around from generation to generation that’s connected somehow to somebody in our family.”

Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. was invited to say a word at the beginning of the ceremony. He asked everyone to give a hand of praise for the soldiers who paid the ultimate price for the cause of freedom.

Perkins said he has a long history of family members who were part of the military.

“And so we’re here to celebrate them and to celebrate all veterans who have now gone on to glory,” Perkins said. “For all of the success that we’ve experienced on the battlefields around the world and all of the success we’ve experienced as a result of having the freedoms that we have, I say to you, to God be the glory.”

Following the speeches, Doherty called others to place wreaths on the memorial. They included American Legion Post 20 Senior Vice Cmdr. Mark Boswell, Post 20 Cmdr. David Cox, Legion Post 324;s Benson Webb and Louise Rose with the Emblem Club.

Following the ceremony, the VFW post invited the guests to have hot dogs and refreshments at the post’s headquarters.