Nov. 11 – In honor of Veterans Day, parades and ceremonies honoring the nation’s former service members will take place in north Alabama on Monday.
On Monday, the Morgan County Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of North Bethel Road and Greenfield Drive in Priceville. The parade ends at the Morgan County Veterans Memorial, on Alabama 67, where a ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Edward Johnson, of New York, was with his grandson at the flag-decorated Veterans Park in Priceville on Sunday.
“Nowadays people don’t seem to respect anyone anymore, and that’s a shame,” Johnson said. “I hope Veterans Day is a day when people can come together and show respect and honor for those who have been selfless enough to serve and protect our nation.”
Also on Monday, Hartselle will hold a Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. on Railroad Street in front of the depot, followed by a parade at 11 a.m. that starts on Railroad Street and continues on Main Street.
In Moulton, a Veterans Day Parade will take place Monday at 6 p.m. at the Lions Club, 455 School St., Moulton.
The Athens Limestone County Veterans Day Parade will take place Monday at 11 a.m., starting at Athens High and ending at the Athens-Limestone Public Library.
Ceremonies honoring veterans began last week, including the introduction of the new North Alabama Patriot Trail during a celebration involving veterans and others Thursday at the Athens Veterans Museum and Archives.
The new route, coordinated by the North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, offers a tour of more than 60 patriotic stops, including memorial parks, museums, memorials, markers, archives and notable sites in Alabama’s 16 northernmost counties.
The route includes several memorials, museums and parks in north Alabama honoring U.S. military veterans. Many of the memorials list the names of local residents who died while serving in the military, from the Revolutionary War through current conflicts. The museums and parks contain military artifacts, vehicles and equipment that show the history of various wars and conflicts.
Maj. Gen. Janet Cobb spoke about making sure every generation remembers the sacrifices veterans have made for our country, the city of Athens said, and Danville-Neel student Charlotte Craig introduced a video of her classmates making thank you cards for veterans.
The National Weather Service in Huntsville predicts it will be mostly sunny in northern Alabama on Monday, with a high temperature in the Decatur area of around 74 degrees.
Veterans Day has its origins in the First World War.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles outside the city of Versailles, France. However, the fighting stopped seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany came into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For this reason, November 11, 1918 is widely regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Veterans Day is still celebrated on November 11, regardless of what day of the week it falls. Restoring the celebration of Veterans Day to November 11 not only maintains the historical significance of the date, but also helps draw attention to the important purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, patriotism and willingness to to serve and sacrifice for the greater good, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
– eric@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2435
