On Monday, November 11, 2024, Bob Jones High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AL-20021) proudly marched in the annual Huntsville Veterans Day Parade, honoring the service and sacrifice of those who served. This event, held in the heart of Huntsville, Alabama, celebrates and honors veterans from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, paying tribute to their courage, commitment, and the sacrifices they have made in service to the nation.

The celebration of Veterans Day originates back to the First World War where, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918 the Treaty of Versailles was signed by military leaders of the central and allied powers ending the war. The holiday became nationally recognized on November 11th, 1919 originally known as Armistice Day. Later, under pressure from many U.S. Veterans Organizations the holiday was changed to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954 to recognize all veterans of the U.S. for their service and sacrifice.

The Veterans Day Parade has become a tradition in Huntsville, a city with deep-rooted military connection through Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Space Flight Center, and a spirited community of active-duty personnel and veterans. Each year, attendees line the street of downtown Huntsville, waving flags, cheering various military and community groups, active-duty service members, school bands, and JROTC cadets who march in the parade to honor those who have served.

Veterans Day is an incredibly important day for our community. North Alabama was built on the work of our hardworking veterans who sacrificed everything to serve our country. Cadets are eager to honor the service of our veterans. In fact many of the Bob Jones AFJROTC cadets marching in the parade are Military Brats or children of military parents. These cadets have lived around the military their whole life and understand how their parents and servicemembers like them have served our nation.