At REV Birmingham, we love the fact that downtown is the best place for large community-wide celebrations. One of the most vibrant places to celebrate Veterans Day is the city center of Birmingham! Visitors from all areas and backgrounds mingle with Birmingham’s downtown workforce and neighbors at the greatest Veterans Day parade to honor those who have served.
Come watch the parade with us!
There is so much history in Birmingham and now is your chance to be a part of it! Did you know that the Magic City is home to the oldest and largest parade in the country? Before Veterans Day, the holiday was Armistice Day, commemorating the end of WWI. Raymond Weeks, a Navy vet of WWII and Birmingham native, petitioned Dwight Eisenhower in 1947 to expand Armistice Day into Veterans Day. The holiday would celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I. Weeks formed the first Veterans Day parade that year, and he eventually got Veterans Day acknowledged as a national holiday in 1954. This year the parade is celebrating 75 years and has expanded its route! Can you tell what street the parade was on in the picture on the right years ago?
In the age of remote work, working downtown on Veterans Day is a must! Downtown needs all its stakeholders in it on days like Veterans Day. The presence of visitors for special events like the Veterans Day Parade adds to and enhances the usual pool of downtown workers. Take a look at the parade route to scope out a good viewing spot!
After the parade, head to the Pizitz to grab lunch or take a walk at Railroad Park. Our downtown is a resilient and multifaceted place that can support a variety of daily activities, including significant events and normal business operations. Events like this parade offer downtown employees a reprieve from the usual workday and an opportunity to interface with their community.
We will be downtown enjoying the parade on Veterans Day. The parade begins at 11:00am, rain or shine. We hope to see you there, whether you’re a visitor or a downtown employee!
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