CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA – The city of Opelika invites the public to join the mayor and city council on Friday, Nov. 10, as we host a Veterans Day Celebration and pause to say thank you to our veterans.
“It’s important that we pause and say thank you to our veterans,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “We are honored to recognize them on this special day in Opelika. It’s because of our veterans that future generations can enjoy a life of freedom.”
The morning begins with a breakfast at 9 a.m. for veterans and their families at Opelika Public Library, 1100 Glenn St. The breakfast is free for veterans and their families.
At 10 a.m., the Veterans Day program will begin in the Cooper Room at the Opelika Public Library.
Commander Timothy “Tang” Aja of the Navy Reserves will be our special guest speaker. Aja is a native of Maryland. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Salisbury University and a Master of Science in Finance from Auburn University. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in February 2003 and was designated naval aviator in February 2005.
After earning his aircraft and tactical helicopter qualifications for the SH-60B Seahawk he was assigned to the GRANDMASTERS of HSL-46 in Mayport, Florida. There he deployed to CENTCOM onboard USS Anzio (CG-68) as part of the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group and then onboard the USS Gettysburg (CV-64) to participate in BALTOPS 2008. His first shore assignment was at the Auburn/Tuskegee Naval ROTC Consortium in Alabama. Departing in 2011, he volunteered for an Individual Augmentation serving as the Commander’s Initiative Group deputy director at Special Operations Headquarters in Afghanistan. Aja’s final active-duty billet was at San Diego Naval Station teaching officer professional development. He left active service in 2014 and immediately affiliated with the Navy’s Selected Reserves (SELRES).
As a member of SELRES, he first served with the Navy’s Europe and Africa Command, Sixth Fleet, participating as a mission planner for multiple exercises across Europe. In 2016, he was recalled to active service and mobilized to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. There he served as the air operations officer leading military and civilian personnel to enable top-tier national tasking. In December 2019, he took command of NR USFF MAO TYNDALL leading the Naval & Amphibious Liaison Element (NALE) for NAVNORTH and NAVSTRAT at the 601st AOC on Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Currently he commands NR CNRSE ROC in Jacksonville, Florida, where he leads a unit that provides operational and contingency support to Commander Navy Region Southeast’s Crisis Action Team, Incident Management Team and Regional Operations Center (ROC) watches in addition to associated training and exercise life cycle support.
Aja’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards) and various campaign, unit and service awards.
Aja resides in Opelika with his wife and daughter. He is an entrepreneur and investment manager at Aja Financial LLC. Additionally, he is a council member for Opelika’s Ward 3.
Other Veterans Day week news: All city offices will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, including the Opelika Public Library. The Opelika SportsPlex will be open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There is no change to weekly garbage schedule.
