Bay Minette Veterans Day Parade Steps Off Nov. 7, Followed by Eternal Flame and Korean War Ceremonies
The North Baldwin Chamber's Veterans Day Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 in downtown Bay Minette, followed by Eternal Flame and Korean War Memorial ceremonies and Heroes & Harvest.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Downtown Bay Minette will turn out to honor those who served when the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremonies on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Bay Minette Veterans Day parade will wind through the heart of the city, followed by two remembrance ceremonies and an afternoon of community fellowship.
The event is meant to honor veterans while bringing together residents, families, businesses and organizations from across North Baldwin County. Parade lineup begins at 9:30 a.m., and the parade steps off at 10 a.m.
Parade route and schedule
Participants will travel through downtown Bay Minette, the seat of Baldwin County. After the parade, attendees are encouraged to stay for two ceremonies honoring those who served:
- Eternal Flame Ceremony at Courthouse Square
- Korean War Memorial Ceremony at the Bay Minette Public Library
Once the ceremonies conclude, the celebration continues at Heroes & Harvest in Blackburn Park, where residents are invited to stay downtown for community fellowship and a continued celebration of the day.
How to join the parade
The chamber is inviting a broad range of groups to take part. Businesses, civic groups, schools, churches, veterans organizations and community groups are all welcome to participate in the parade.
Groups must register through the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, located at 301 McMeans Ave. in Bay Minette. Organizations interested in marching, riding or entering a float should contact the chamber ahead of time to make sure they are included in the lineup.
Event at a glance
- What: North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Veterans Day Parade and Ceremonies
- When: Saturday, Nov. 7; lineup at 9:30 a.m., parade at 10 a.m.
- Where: Downtown Bay Minette
- Ceremonies: Eternal Flame Ceremony at Courthouse Square; Korean War Memorial Ceremony at the Bay Minette Public Library
- Afterward: Heroes & Harvest in Blackburn Park
- Parade registration: North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, 301 McMeans Ave., Bay Minette
Why we observe Veterans Day
Veterans Day is observed each year on Nov. 11. The date traces back to the armistice that ended fighting in World War I, which took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The day was first observed as Armistice Day, honoring the end of what was then called the Great War.
In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day so that the holiday would honor American veterans of all wars. Unlike Memorial Day, which remembers those who died in military service, Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces, living or dead, in wartime or in peacetime.
Many communities, like Bay Minette, hold their parades and ceremonies on the weekend before Nov. 11 so more families, students and working residents can attend. This year, Veterans Day itself falls on a Wednesday.
Remembering the Korean War
The Korean War Memorial Ceremony at the Bay Minette Public Library gives particular recognition to those who served in a conflict that is sometimes called “the Forgotten War.” Fighting began in June 1950 and ended with an armistice signed in July 1953. Nearly 1.8 million Americans served in the Korean theater, and more than 36,000 U.S. service members died there. With many Korean War veterans now in their 90s, local ceremonies like this one are an increasingly important way to honor their service while some of them can still attend.
A community gathering for North Baldwin
Bay Minette has served as the Baldwin County seat since 1901, and Courthouse Square sits at the center of downtown life. Holding the ceremonies there and at the public library places the day’s remembrances in the community’s most familiar public spaces.
The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce supports businesses and community life in Bay Minette and the surrounding area, and the Veterans Day parade is one of its signature annual events. The addition of Heroes & Harvest in Blackburn Park gives families a reason to linger downtown after the parade and ceremonies end.
North Baldwin has close ties to the veteran community. The William F. Green Veterans Home in Bay Minette, a state-operated nursing home for veterans, cares for those who served. Residents looking for additional ways to give back this season can support efforts such as Baldwin EMC’s Power of Giving drive on Nov. 5 in Summerdale, which is collecting supplies for the veterans home.
Other ways to honor veterans this month
The Bay Minette parade is one of several opportunities across the region to recognize veterans in November. Other events on the calendar include a Veterans Day songwriters show in Orange Beach featuring Nashville writers performing songs inspired by military service, and the Tee Up For The Troops golf scramble at Craft Farms benefiting Warrior Legacy Ranch. Later in the season, Wreaths Across America volunteers aim to honor all 3,500 veterans buried at Serenity Gardens in west Mobile by placing wreaths on their graves.
For residents of North Baldwin, though, the Nov. 7 parade offers a chance to say thank you close to home. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to find a spot along the downtown route, bring flags and chairs, and stay for the ceremonies that follow. Veterans attending the parade can expect to be thanked many times over, and families may want to take the opportunity to bring along a grandparent, neighbor or friend who served so they can be recognized in person.
