Veterans Day is right around the corner, and most high school students view this as a free day off of school. Most of us fail to realize how meaningful this holiday truly is. Veterans Day was first observed on November 11, 1919, as a day to honor all those who have served in the military. The meaning of Veterans Day is often confused with Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day to honor all those who have died while in military service, while Veterans Day commemorates the service of all United States Veterans. Every year, the city of Birmingham, in partnership with The National Veterans Day Foundation and a large variety of other sponsors, holds a National Veterans Day Parade through the streets of downtown Birmingham. This tradition was initiated in 1947 by President Ronald Reagan, making it the nation's oldest Veterans Day Parade and first-ever Veterans Day celebration. With Veterans Day approaching, the city is gearing up for its 76th National Veterans Day Parade, which will be held on November 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The parade will include a plethora of color guards, high school marching bands, drill teams, several veteran service organizations, armed forces, and local military supporters. The parade will kick off on 18th St. and 9th Ave. N., and it will conclude at 19th St. and 10th Ave. N. The National Veterans Day Foundation is also holding its annual dinner on the Thursday before the parade at the Sheraton Downtown Ballroom, where the National Veterans Award will be given. This award was created in 1954 to honor a veteran in the United States who has significantly contributed to furthering the patriotic interest of veterans and veteran organizations throughout the country. Although the Birmingham Veterans Day Parade is not the largest Veterans Day celebration in the country, it is very meaningful to veterans nationwide. Many young people tend to overlook the importance of this holiday, even though many of us have relatives who are veterans. Learning about these events and celebrations is the first step to getting more involved. This Veterans Day, I hope you consider attending the Veterans Day Parade and showing local and national veterans your gratitude.
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