Veterans Day In Birmingham: What's Open, What's Closed

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Wednesday is Veterans Day, a holiday with origins rooted in Birmingham history. And while the nation's oldest Veterans Day parade — in Birmingham — will be virtual, many of the city's offices and services will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Birmingham city offices are closed, aside from police, fire and 911.

Here is what to expect as far as closings in the city Wednesday:

• Banks: Most banks are closed.
• Mail service: No mail service on Veterans Day. Fed Ex and UPS will be making deliveries.
• City and county offices: Most city and county offices throughout Alabama are closed for Veterans Day. Courts and drivers license offices will be closed as well.
• Post Office: Closed
• Schools: Most schools are closed
• State of Alabama: Offices and courts closed
• Stock markets: Open
• Stores and malls: Almost all – including Target and Walmart – are open regular hours. Many have special sales on Veterans Day.

Birmingham became the pioneer of the national holiday when World War II veteran and Birmingham resident Raymond Weeks had an idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans. In 1947 he led a delegation to Washington, D.C., to urge then-Army Chief of Staff General Eisenhower to create a national holiday that honored all veterans.

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation establishing November 11 as Veterans Day. President Ronald Reagan honored Weeks as the driving force for the national holiday with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 at the White House.

Weeks led the first National Veterans Day Parade in 1947 in Alabama, and he continued the tradition until his death in 1985.