A flag-waving crowd numbering in the hundreds packed downtown Foley on Veterans Day to cheer on parading veterans whose service spanned generations, from World War II through the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.
Leading the decades-old procession was a retired Army staff sergeant from Elberta who carried the American flag at the front of the parade, calling the role an honor he could barely put into words. He had served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. A member of the Sons of the American Legion followed close behind, carrying the flag of the local American Legion post that organizes the annual parade in partnership with the city.
Other veterans marching in the parade included a retired Air Force master sergeant who served across three wars spanning World War II, Korea and Vietnam, along with an Army combat veteran of Vietnam who was twice wounded and awarded two Purple Hearts. Foley High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC, marching band and color guard joined the parade, along with baton twirlers, local Boy Scout troops and the town’s historic depot train.
The Foley parade was one of several Veterans Day observances held across Baldwin County that day, with additional events including a parade and related activities in Bay Minette and a program held at Patriots Point in Daphne. Fairhope had held its own annual parade the preceding Saturday, and a sunset prayer service was scheduled that evening at the veterans memorial in Henry George Park.
Among the spectators lining the Foley parade route were multiple generations of local families, some of whom described deep and personal ties to military service. One longtime Foley resident said Veterans Day carries special significance for her family, noting that two of her brothers, both Marines, have since passed away, and expressing hope that her young grandchildren might one day choose to serve as well. Her daughter, a middle school English teacher in Foley, said the holiday offers an important moment to reflect on sacrifice while encouraging younger generations to carry that spirit forward.
Following the parade, a program at Max Griffin Park featured remarks from local veterans’ organization leaders, including a Vietnam-era Navy veteran who serves as a chapter commander for Alabama’s Disabled American Veterans. He thanked veterans past and present, along with the families who supported them, describing American veterans as the truest heroes he had come to know. A chaplain with the American Legion post, himself a retired Army sergeant who served in Vietnam, closed the program with a call for the community to look out for veterans still in need, including those experiencing homelessness, and to renew the commitment made when they first took their oath of service.