Today is Veterans Day, the day where America honors the men and women who have fought to keep this country free and prosperous. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks) said that our veterans , “Are nothing less than true American heroes.”
“Today, as we honor our Veterans, we must remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting to protect our freedoms and pray for their families and friends they left behind,” Rep. Rogers said. “All of our brave men and women who serve our country in uniform are nothing less than true American heroes. God bless our Veterans and God bless America.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) said that this special day of remembrance to acknowledge the servicemembers who sacrifice for our freedoms.
“Each year on Veterans Day, Americans pause to recognize those who have served our country in uniform,” Rep. Roby said. “Originally known as Armistice Day, Congress later passed a resolution signed by President Dwight Eisenhower that officially designated November 11 as Veterans Day. It is important that we honor these heroic men and women not only on this holiday but every day. We are indebted to the selflessness of those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. This special day of remembrance is not simply just a day off work. It is a day set aside to acknowledge the servicemembers who sacrificed for the freedoms we may sometimes take for granted.”
The U.S. military continues its centuries old mission of defending this country and its interest around the world. On November 11th we honor those soldiers who have fought for us and those who continue that service this very day.”
Birmingham’s National Veterans Day event is the oldest and largest Veterans Day celebration in the country.
National Veterans Day in Birmingham honors and salutes those men and women who have served their country as members of the armed services as well as those currently wearing the uniform of the active, reserve, and National Guard forces.
The annual parade and event was started in the 1940s by Raymond Weeks.
101 years ago, the Armistice was signed ending the “War to End All Wars”…..It did not end war, but for decades November 11 would be remembered as Armistice day. All the veterans of World War I are dead now, but their memory and their example remains. Their children fought in World War II and Korea, their grandchildren fought in Vietnam, their great grandchildren fought in Panama, Somalia, Desert Storm, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. They have great great grandchildren on duty today fighting the Taliban, terrorists, and ISIS in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria and in posts around the world. Eventually the day that the Armistice was signed ending “The Great War” would become the day that Americans honors her veterans. Birmingham was where Armistice first became Veterans Day and it is still home to the oldest Veterans Day Parade in the country.
Following World War II, Birmingham WWII veteran Raymond Weeks led a delegation to the Pentagon where they asked Army Chief of Staff Dwight D Eisenhower to create a day honoring all of the nation’s veterans. In 1954, as President Eisenhower (R) he signed legislation formally establishing November 11th as Veterans Day. Weeks led the first Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham in 1947 and led the parade every year until his death in 1985. Weeks was honored in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan (R).
The Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham begins on Monday at 1:30 pm. Starting at Railroad Park.
Huntsville also has a Veterans Day Parade.
The parades are free and open to the public.
