Scenes from one of Birmingham’s most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day

IMG 2513 Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
Lyman Ward Military Academy students marching at the 2018 Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham. Photo by Jon Eastwood

Despite a day that saw between 2-4 inches of rainfall in Birmingham, as promised, National Veterans Day President Mark Ryan kept his word when he said, “The parade does not get cancelled.”

Because of the messy weather conditions, the 71st Annual National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham was missing the local high school bands, Junior ROTC organizations and a number of floats and veterans groups. The event still lasted an hour, but it was far shorter than the usual 2-3 hours regular Veterans Day parade enthusiasts are use to seeing.

If one thing will be remembered this Veterans Day in Birmingham, it will be Ryan’s follow-up statement about the parade and the weather conditions.

“Our veterans never cancelled a day because of the weather for us.”

In that spirit, especially here in Birmingham, the birthplace of Veterans Day, we will never forget our veterans and we are forever grateful to them.

Below are photos of the 2018 Veterans Day weekend in Birmingham compiled by Bham Now.

Raymond Weeks Memorial Service

Screen Shot 2018 11 13 at 5.52.02 AM Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
Raymond Weeks Memorial Service at Linn Park. Weeks, a Birmingham resident, led the national efforts to establish the Veterans Day. Photo by Terry Schrimscher
Screen Shot 2018 11 13 at 5.52.46 AM Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
Raymond Weeks Memorial Service at Linn Park. Weeks, a Birmingham resident, led the national efforts to establish the Veterans Day. Photo by Terry Schrimscher
45991471 346221042796769 2314779882673930240 n Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
Raymond Weeks Memorial Service at Linn Park. Weeks, a Birmingham resident, led the national efforts to establish the Veterans Day. Photo by Terry Schrimscher

National Veterans Day Dinner

2018 National Veterans Day Parade

IMG 2505 Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
The 2018 Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham. Photo by Jon Eastwood
IMG 5849 Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
2018 National Veterans Day in Birmingham. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now
IMG 5844 Scenes from one of Birmingham's most treasured events, the 71st annual National Veterans Day
2018 National Veterans Day in Birmingham, Alabama. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

 

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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