Free events planned to honor Alabama's Veterans | Events

Montgomery, Ala. — Alabama commemorates Veteran’s Day with more than a dozen free events, parades and tributes that will take place across the state.

Families can watch the renowned Veterans Day parade in downtown Birmingham — the largest and oldest celebration of its kind. Parades line the streets in Linden and Tuscumbia while wreaths are laid to honor the fallen in Alexander City. Visitors can climb aboard a WWII Battleship, the USS Alabama, in Mobile and in Montgomery families can listen to a musical tribute. The tourism department compiled the following list of events that honors all military veterans.

Shelby County Veterans Day Ceremony & Tribute— Nov. 4

Columbiana — free

The event honors the nation’s veterans with a ceremony on the Shelby County Courthouse lawn from 1-2 p.m. 205.669.9075, www.shelbycountychamber.com.

Veterans Day Parade — Nov. 10

Fairhope — free

Fairhope will honor its military veterans with a Veteran’s Day Parade through downtown. It starts at 10 a.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center. A special reception at the civic center begins at 8:30 a.m. As part of the celebration the city names a Veteran of the Year to participate in the parade and be recognized by the community. For more information contact Joe Birindelli at 251.928.3292.

Foley Veterans Day Parade and Tribute — Nov. 10

Max Griffin Park — free

Foley will celebrate Veterans Day with a parade beginning at 10 a.m., followed by a short program at 11 a.m., honoring all active and veteran military men and women. For more information contact Steve James at 251.978.1702.

Veteran’s Day Parade — Nov. 9

Linden — free

The town of Linden will honor local veterans with a grand parade through the streets of downtown. 334.295.5051, www.lindenalabama.net.

Tuscumbia Veterans Day Parade —Nov. 10

Main Street — free

Families can enjoy a parade down Main Street in Tuscumbia to honor all active and veteran military members. Activities begin at 11 a.m. A program follows the parade at the Circle of Valor Memorial on the Colbert County Courthouse lawn. Contact: 256.383.0783, www.colbertcountytourism.org.

Veterans Day Ceremony — Nov. 10

Union Springs — free

Music, a special guest speaker and a Roll Call honoring local veterans will take place in Union Springs at the Courthouse square at 11 a.m. 334.738-8687.

Alexander City Veterans Day Service — Nov. 11

Veteran’s Memorial Park — free

Join the Mayor and city leaders to pay respect to Alabama veterans of the Confederacy, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. Wreaths will be presented at the memorial at 2 p.m. Contact: 256.329.6700, www.alexcityonline.com.

Veteran’s Day Ceremony, Nov. 11

Ardmore — free

This annual event honors local veterans and families with a special ceremony and meal.

256.423.7588, www.ardmorealtnchamber.com.

National Veteran’s Day Parade — Nov. 11-12

Birmingham — free

On Sunday, Nov. 11, Birmingham will host a 65th anniversary commemoration in Linn Park at 5 p.m. Then on Monday, Nov. 12, enjoy the largest and oldest celebration of its kind in the U.S.  More than 5,000 participants, 15 bands and 50 floats will join in the Veteran’s Day celebration in downtown Birmingham 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 12. For more information call 205.325.1432.

Decatur’s Veterans Day Parade and Celebration — Nov. 11

Decatur — free

The parade begins at 2nd Avenue and will wind through the downtown streets at 7:30 a.m. The celebration ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the Morgan County Courthouse. For more information contact Theresa Groves, grovesrt@charter.net.

Wetumpka Veterans Day Observance — Nov. 11

Wetumpka — free
Boy Scouts will place flags on veterans’ graves at Pine View Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m. There will be a keynote speaker and brief program. Then at 6 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church there will be the 4th Annual Musical Tribute to Veterans with the Elmore County church choirs singing patriotic music.

Veteran’s Day Tribute — Nov 12
Eclectic — free

Eclectic will honor those who served in World War II at the annual Veteran’s Day observance Sun., Nov. 12 at 2 p.m., at the Veteran’s Memorial on Kowaliga Road. Members are working to identify veterans to personally honor and ask that anyone with a friend or family member who served in WWII to contact Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Harold Dunson at 334.514.7667 to be included in the ceremony.

Huntsville Veterans Day Parade — Nov. 12

Clinton Avenue — free

Huntsville celebrates Veterans Day with a parade at 11 a.m. A flag at the corner of Williams and Lowe Avenues will be raised to full mast followed by taps and a three-volley rifle salute. Contact: 256.533.4848.

Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day Parade of Flags — November 12

USS Alabama Battleship Park — free

Each year the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day Commission holds several events in honor of Veterans Day. The day begins with a parade downtown at 10:00 am, at 11:30 there is a luncheon where the Veteran and Patriot of the Year are announced (must have ticket), 3:00 is the Parade of Flags ceremony that includes hundreds of area 4th graders and a presentation by America's Distinguished Young Woman of the Year, and the day ends with a patriotic concert at 7 p.m. 

For more information: 251.433.2703, www.ussalabama.com.

A Musical Tribute to Veterans— Nov. 11

Montgomery Memorial Presbyterian Church — free

This tribute to veterans 2012 is an opportunity to recognize the heroic servicemen and servicewomen who have served in the past and those who continue to serve our great nation. This program of patriotic and sacred music is part of Memorial’s longstanding Vesper Concert Series and starts at 4 p.m. 334.221.1876. www.visitingmontgomery.com

3RD Annual River Region Veterans Day Parade — Nov. 12

Montgomery — free

Join the City of Montgomery and their partners as they honor our nation's veterans. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with an observance program and concert by the Capitol Sounds Concert Band (steps of the Alabama State Capitol), followed by a parade down Dexter Ave. at 11 a.m.  www.visitingmontgomery.com.

Veterans Day Parade — Nov. 12

A parade and dedication ceremony will be held in Priceville at the new Veterans Memorial Park at 1 p.m. For more information contact grovesrt@charter.net

Information Source: Alabama Bureau of Tourism