72nd Veterans Day Parade returns

The National Veterans Day Parade, a Birmingham tradition since 1947, returns to the streets of downtown on Nov. 11, at 1:30 p.m.

The patriotic event — sponsored by the Birmingham-based National Veterans Day Foundation — typically draws about 80,000 attendees, foundation President Mark Ryan said.

As it did in 2018, the parade will follow a route in Midtown and Parkside — wrapping around Railroad Park and Regions Field — due to Interstate 20/59 construction in the central business district where the event has traditionally been held.

The parade usually features jeeps, trucks and armored personnel carriers, motorcycles, sports cars and other vehicles.

The parade in 2018 drew a good crowd despite the rain as it marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I on Armistice Day, which was the precursor to Veterans Day.

There will be other events Nov. 10-11, including the National Veterans Award Dinner, Veterans Memorial Service, World Peace Luncheon and Raymond Weeks Memorial Service. 

Weeks, a Birmingham-area veteran, began the parade and successfully lobbied President Dwight Eisenhower to create Veterans Day in 1954.

Awards dinner tickets are $45.

For parade details, including the route, go to nationalveteransday.org. The event will also be live streamed from the website.