National Veterans Day in Birmingham

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National Veterans Day in Birmingham (NVD) is a non-profit organization that coordinates the observance of Veterans Day in Birmingham. The group was founded in 1945 by Raymond Weeks, who lobbied for the broadening of Armistice Day to recognize veterans of all wars. Those efforts bore fruit when Congress declared Veterans Day a national holiday in 1954.

The Birmingham National Veterans Day parade downtown is the largest in the United States. Other annual events include a memorial service, a World Peace luncheon, and a banquet, at which the National Veterans Award is bestowed.

Weeks served as president of the NVD until his death in 1985. Bill Voigt took over and was president until he stepped down in 2010 following a heart attack. Don Boomershine, the group's vice-president has been serving on an interim basis, but new leadership is sought to insure the continuation of Birmingham's events.

References

  • Spencer, Thomas (April 9, 2011) "Birmingham's Veterans Day parade -- nation's oldest and largest -- could face taps." Birmingham News

External links