CULLMAN, Ala. – Despite a day filled with overcast skies and canceled flight shows, the Cullman County Veterans Day Celebration saw an impressive turnout on Saturday, Nov. 2, with over 4,000 attendees gathering at Cullman Regional Airport to honor local veterans. The event, which ran for the greater part of the day, was free to the public, with veterans and their spouses receiving a warm welcome with complimentary coffee, donuts and a special lunch provided by the Cullman Elks Lodge.
Retired Colonel Ken Brown, representative for the Cullman Elks Veterans Committee, reflected on the day’s success, sharing, “We are very thankful that we live in such a patriotic community. We have over 7,000 veterans and their families that live here. This event is designed every year to get people to come out and honor their veterans and thank them. I think we accomplished our mission this year. Anytime you have four to five thousand people come out to an event for a purpose, I think you can say it’s a success.” He added with a chuckle, “I am saying it would have been a heck of a lot more successful if we could have had some nice weather because even more people would have come out to enjoy the things we had planned in the air.”
Aside from the canceled aerial displays, the event delivered everything it promised. Colonel Brown led the ceremony, honoring veterans and highlighting their service in front of the crowd gathered in support. Attendees explored various military displays, including an F-4 Phantom Jet and the P-40 aircraft, famously flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. WWII re-enactors and members of the Cullman Historical Society shared character-driven stories, immersing visitors in the legacy of veterans who served across generations.
The classic car show showcased 1930s- and 1940s-era vehicles, while an expansive collection of military weapons was available for viewing. Kids and families enjoyed suiting up in military gear and experiencing the feel of the weapons on-site. A popular interactive Huey helicopter display also allowed young attendees to sit in the cockpit and hear stories from Vietnam-era pilots who flew the iconic aircraft.
Colonel Brown went on to thank Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, and the representatives as well as the local committees and boards that provided financial support for the event and whose stewardship made it possible.
“It’s a real community effort to put this on so we don’t have to charge anyone to come out and honor their veterans. I am really tickled that we have such a great community of patriots that really want to take care of and support their veterans and honor them,” he said. “Everyone pulls together. Everyone is a volunteer. No one is getting paid for this. The Elks Lodge does a great job and deserves a huge round of applause. They provide the people who do the parking. They feed over 1,000 veterans and their spouses a free lunch every year. It’s a good community effort every year to put this all together.”
Organizers aim to continue building on each year’s success, establishing the celebration as an annual highlight not only for the Cullman community, but also for all of northern Alabama. For more details on future events, visit www.cullmanveteransday.com.
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