Vestavia Hills to host veteran benefits fair and Salute on Nov. 9
The city's annual event will feature a keynote by a retired major general and offer free workshops on legal aid, small business, and healthcare for veterans and their families.
By Marta Gray ·
More than 400 people attended last year's combined Salute to Veterans and benefits fair in Vestavia Hills. The city expects to see that crowd again on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. The event aims to connect veterans with resources they might not seek out on their own.
The city has hosted a veterans' event every year since 2016. Mayor Ashley Curry noted that early turnouts were small, with only 25 to 30 attendees in the first few years. Attendance has grown as the program has expanded to include a dedicated resource fair.
The day begins at 9 a.m. in the Magnolia Room with the Salute to Veterans program. This two-hour session includes light refreshments, entertainment, and patriotic programming. Retired Army Maj. Gen. David Burford will deliver the keynote address.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the upstairs ballroom will host the Veterans Benefits and Resource Event. Organized with the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative, this portion of the day features service officers from the VA and the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. Lunch is provided at no cost. Employers and resource providers will also be present to assist veterans.
The schedule includes specific workshops designed to address common veteran needs. The State Traumatic Head Injury Program will offer free screening and care coordination through five new centers. BRAVO-Vets will provide support for veterans in the justice system dealing with traumatic brain injury and mental health disorders.
Legal assistance will be available through C-Vets students from Cumberland School of Law and Legal Services of Alabama. Topics will include discharge upgrades and other administrative remedies. Additional sessions will cover grant writing for nonprofits and small business startups.
The University of Alabama’s LIFT program will offer one-on-one help with technology devices. The Birmingham VA Health Care System will provide women veterans health services. These resources are part of the collaborative's effort to ensure veterans receive the support they require.
Burford co-founded the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative in 2019. It has grown into a volunteer group of more than 200 partners across 100 agencies. Burford, a Vestavia Hills native, served 38 years in the Army, Reserve, and Alabama Army National Guard. He now serves as vice president of the National Veterans Day Foundation.
Brian Crawford, a 1968 Naval Air Reserve veteran, will also be present. He spent two years in the Philippines and later worked 35 years in banking. Crawford said he attends events because he wants to help veterans who often do not ask for help. He specifically mentioned the need for support for spouses and the issue of veteran homelessness.
Curry, who spent 25 years in the FBI, cited his own family's experience with PTSD as a reason for the event. He said the goal is to put information in front of people who can act on it. The event ends at 5 p.m. on Nov. 9 at 1090 Montgomery Highway.
