Free Hot Dogs for Veterans Day at Brierfield

The limit is two hot dogs per guest, but on Saturday, November 09th, 2024, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the Brierfield Ironworks Park in Bibb County, Alabama will be offering free hot dogs for Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a national holiday held annually on November 11th that was established to honor all members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have served their country. And actually the origins of Veterans Day can be traced to Alabama. As Raymond Weeks, A World War II veteran who also served in the Alabama State House of Representatives, organized an Armistice Day parade for Birmingham, Alabama on November 11th, 1947 to honor all Veterans for their loyal service. And this parade was the first occasion to coin the term "Veterans Day". A day which was then later signed into law in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As Eisenhower thought the day was a fitting occasion to encourage Americans to commit themselves to the cause of peace and to honor America's veterans for their courage, honor, patriotism, and sacrifice.

The Veterans Day celebration at Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park will also feature a concert by the 151st Army National Guard Band, a thirty-seven-member band that includes graduates from the U.S. Army School of Music. The band is in high demand during the Veterans Day weekend and is comprised of different groups such as the "Yellowhammer" Rock Band, the "Youngbucks" Brass Band, and the "Echelon Winds" Wind Ensemble.

For the Veterans Day celebration at Brierfield, the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park is offering free admission. Normally, the admission would be $4USD for adults and $3USD for seniors and children. Brierfield is a 45-acre park along the banks of the Little Cahaba River that includes forests and trails and the ruins of the Brierfield Furnace. With the furnace being first developed in 1861 by two planters who used it to produce wrought iron. The quality of the iron produced at Brierfield was so high, that during the War Between the States, the Confederate government forced the planters to sell the furnace to them. The Confederacy then connected the furnace to the railroad line and had it producing 25 tons of iron per day prior to being destroyed on March 31st, 1865, by the 10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry during Wilson's Raid. The furnace was revived several times by various owners after its destruction, but the iron producing furnace closed for good on Christmas Eve of 1894.

Camping is also offered at the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park. With some of the campground amenities that they offer including clean restrooms, hot showers, and convenient access to water and electricity. The address of the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park is 240 Furnace Parkway, Brierfield, Alabama, 35035.

Luisa Reyes is an attorney in Tuscaloosa with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Judson, a master's degree in library science, and a law degree from Samford's Cumberland School of Law. She is also a piano instructor and vocalist.