The 77th annual National Veterans Day Parade will take place in downtown Birmingham on Monday, November 11th.

The parade celebrates the national holiday officially signed by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 and is the longest running parade of its kind in the country.

A successor to the earlier Armistice Day, Veteran’s Day was first celebrated in 1947 in Birmingham. “Although Veterans Day is now recognized as a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, the celebration in Birmingham remains the nation’s largest,” notes the Bhamwiki website.

Among the sights at the 2024 parade, spectators can expect to see a riderless horse named Hank Tank. The the caparison horse or cap horse – a term referring to the wearing of a saddle or decorative covering – is a tradition in military parades, including funerals. Hank will be led through the parade by “cap bearer” Grant Hardy, who serves with the Old Guard at Arlington Cemetery.

Other organizations such as the local Shriners, a mix of service organizations for veterans, members of the U.S. armed forces and Alabama military supporters, as well as local color guards, high school bands and drill teams, will also be in the parade.

“Each year, we aim to honor our nation’s veterans who have made immense sacrifices for our freedom,” Mark Ryan, president of the National Veterans Day Foundation, said in a news release. “We’re excited to reach more veterans than ever before with live streaming services available for those who can’t attend in person.”

Learn more about the parade below.

when is the parade

The parade will take place on Monday, November 11, between 1-4:30 p.m

Where is the parade route?

The route will begin on 18th Street near the Alabama Power Building, pass City Hall on 19th Street and end at City Walk. However, the route will be a little different this year. It will wind through various historic blocks in downtown Birmingham. See a map of the parade route below.

How can I stream the parade online?

If you can’t watch the parade in person, there will be a live stream starting at 1:30 p.m. at nationalveteransday.org. The 30-minute delay correlates with the arrival of the parade at the City Hall viewing stand.

Will bad weather cancel the parade?

The parade is expected to take place regardless of rain. The current forecast calls for cloudy skies early in the day, with the sun expected to shine brightly through the afternoon. It will be a high of 75 and a low of 62 in Birmingham, according to the National Meteorological Service. However, if it rains, spectators can stay dry and watch the parade on the covered streets of City Walk.

Is there a map of the parade route?

See the map below.

Downtown Birmingham route for the 2024 National Veteran’s Day Parade.https://nationalveteransday.org/parade

To learn more about Veterans Day plans, visit the parade Facebook page.