Did you know that Veterans Day is a Birmingham Creation?
Originally, the holiday was called Armistice Day, which celebrated the symbolic end of World War I, when an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918. Raymond Weeks, from Birmingham, thought that the day should honor all veterans, not just those from World War I. In 1947, Birmingham first locally celebrated Veterans Day. In 1954, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day, and Veterans Day became a national holiday.
Birmingham is home to the oldest and largest Veterans Day parade in the nation, one of the most unique memorial parks in the country and a new national cemetery. So, on Veterans Day, take your children to one of the many Birmingham-area events and parks, tell them about this locally-created holiday and teach them about the sacrifices that military personnel made in the past and are making today to ensure the liberty that we enjoy every day.
Originally, the holiday was called Armistice Day, which celebrated the symbolic end of World War I, when an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918. Raymond Weeks, from Birmingham, thought that the day should honor all veterans, not just those from World War I. In 1947, Birmingham first locally celebrated Veterans Day. In 1954, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day, and Veterans Day became a national holiday.
Birmingham is home to the oldest and largest Veterans Day parade in the nation, one of the most unique memorial parks in the country and a new national cemetery. So, on Veterans Day, take your children to one of the many Birmingham-area events and parks, tell them about this locally-created holiday and teach them about the sacrifices that military personnel made in the past and are making today to ensure the liberty that we enjoy every day.
-Birmingham Parent Magazine, November 2008
Local Events:
Sunday, November 9th, 1:30pm Veterans Memorial Park, near Liberty Park off I-459 Special events for Veterans Day, impersonations of characters and events from children and adults from 1900 to the present.
Local Events:
Sunday, November 9th, 1:30pm Veterans Memorial Park, near Liberty Park off I-459 Special events for Veterans Day, impersonations of characters and events from children and adults from 1900 to the present.
3:30pm Patriotic ceremony featuring members of the Howlin’ Mad Smith Detachment of the Marine Corps League reenacting the famous Joe Rosenthal photo taken on Iwo Jima.
Monday, November 10th, Annual Veterans Day dinner and presentation of the National Veterans Day award. This year’s recipient is Lt. General Ron Christmas and the speaker is Raymond Dempsey.
Tuesday, November 11th, 1:30pm Veterans Day Parade, beginning at the intersection of 19th Street North & 8th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham
Tuesday, November 11th ALL DAY – Military Free Day at The Birmingham Zoo Active military and their immediate family dependents and retired military will receive free admission to the zoo with valid military ID.
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