With Veterans Day just around the corner, communities throughout the state and nation are diligently preparing to honor those who have served in the armed forces. With the prevalence of military bases in Alabama, and nearly 420,000 veterans living here, the holiday is particularly meaningful to many in the state.

Veterans Day is always Nov. 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that brought World War I to an end. This year, with Veterans Day falling on a Monday, many Alabamians can take advantage of a three-day weekend to travel to observances that are taking place all over the state.

Birmingham is home to the nation’s oldest Veterans Day Parade, first held in 1947, and plans for this year’s event are already in place. In keeping with tradition, numerous high school bands will be marching in the parade. Decorative floats from schools, corporations and civic organizations are also part of the lineup. The parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of 8th Avenue North and 19th Street. For the exact route, please visit http://nationalveteransday.org. A Veterans Memorial Service will take place that morning, at 9:30 a.m., at Birmingham’s Cathedral Church of the Advent.

Two other notable events to be held in Birmingham are the National Veterans Award Dinner, taking place Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., and the World Peace Luncheon, taking place at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, just before the parade. The Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African-American flyers of World War II who were trained in Alabama, will be this year’s special honorees at the dinner. Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III of the 99th Air Force Fighter Squadron, heralded as the military’s first “Top Gun,” will accept the award on behalf of all Tuskegee Airmen. Tickets for the dinner and luncheon are available at http://nationalveteransday.org.

Here are some other places and events around the state where you can observe Veterans Day:

Anniston

• Nov. 11 – Centennial Park Ceremony at 11 a.m. Parade at 2 p.m. beginning on Noble Street

Gadsden

• Nov. 6 – Patriots Day Luncheon at 11 a.m. in the Gadsden Convention Hall. Featured speaker: Commander Sgt. Major Leon Caffie

Huntsville

• Nov. 8 – Veterans Dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Von Braun Center
• Nov. 11 – Veterans Breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Von Braun Center, parade at 11 a.m. beginning at Clinton Avenue

Mobile area

• Nov. 9 – Fairhope Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m., Fairhope Civic Center
• Nov. 11 – Parade at 10 a.m. in downtown Mobile
• Nov. 11 – Freedom Celebration at 3 p.m. at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
• Nov. 11 – Mobile Pops Concert at 7 p.m. at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
• Nov. 11 – Bay Minette Veterans Day Parade at 10:15 a.m. beginning at Bay Minette Intermediate School and ending at the eternal flame on the Courthouse Square

Montgomery

• Nov. 11 – Montgomery River Region Veterans Day Parade, 11 a.m., in front of the Capitol
• Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Concert, noon, at City Hall Auditorium

Tuscaloosa

• Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Program at 10:15 a.m. at Memorial Park near McFarland Mall