CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Regional Airport will once again host the annual Cullman Veterans Day Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Presented by the Cullman Elks Lodge, this family-friendly event will feature historic aircraft displays, live demonstrations, reenactments and patriotic tributes to those who have served. Admission and parking are free. The event will be held rain or shine and all are welcome to attend.
The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., featuring a troop march-in, prayer and the national anthem. Speakers will include Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman; Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs; and Cullman County Commission Chairman Jeff Clemons. Veterans will be recognized throughout the ceremony, with retired Col. Don Fallin introducing recently inducted members of the Cullman Veterans Hall of Fame.
The Cullman Elks Lodge will be on-site to provide a free hot lunch for all veterans and their spouses at noon, while food trucks will be available to serve the general public.
This year’s Cullman Veterans Day Celebration will feature a full day of programming, highlighted by a presentation from Colonel John Casper, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who was shot down and rescued during the Vietnam War. Casper will share his story and the critical role the A-1 Sky Raider aircraft played in his rescue. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view a Vietnam-era A-1 Sky Raider, a WWII Marine Corsair and a WWII Navy PBY up close, with related films shown in the airport terminal and on the flightline. WWII reenactor “Major Pappy Boyington” will also be on-site to bring aviation history to life.
New to this year’s event is the Gray Eagle, a military drone used in Iraq and Afghanistan, marking the first time a U.S. military drone has been featured at the Cullman Veterans Day event.
At 11 a.m., Skydive Alabama will perform a parachute jump in honor of veterans, followed by a precision flyover demonstration at 11:30 from a team of airline pilots and military veterans based in Atlanta. The Cullman Community Band will perform a patriotic concert at noon, and at 1:15 p.m., attendees can look to the skies for a KC-135 jet tanker flyover.
For those interested in history, visitors can explore the Civil War reenactor tent, which will feature hourly presentations on the Abel Streight Raid of 1863 and the lives of women during that period.
Returning this year are the always-popular Huey helicopter rides, provided by the Friends of Army Aviation out of Ozark, Alabama. The historic helicopter will be available for rides from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with tickets priced at $80 per rider in advance (available through Oct. 30) or $90 at the event. Veterans may ride for $80. The ground display will also allow attendees to sit in the cockpit, handle the mounted guns and meet Vietnam veterans who flew the Huey in combat.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.cullmanveteransday.com. Cullman Regional Airport is located at 231 County Road 1360 in Vinemont.
Copyright 2025 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
