National Veterans Day Leadership History
Raymond Weeks (1947 - 1985)
In 1942, Raymond Weeks enlisted in the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. After the war ended, Raymond Weeks returned to Birmingham and, like many Americans, thought on November 11 America should honor veterans of all wars. Weeks took massive action. He and a team from Alabama started preparing and a year later on November 11, 1946, petitioned General Dwight Eisenhower at the Pentagon to support a National Veterans Day with the first commemoration in Birmingham, Alabama on November 11, 1947. Eisenhower supported and arranged for General Omar Bradley to speak at the first banquet, plus he sent a telegram to Mr. Weeks stating he hoped what he and Alabama were doing would spread throughout the nation. It did. Weeks and Birmingham presented annual commemorations and home state of Eisenhower, Kansas, and other states joined the movement. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower established Veterans Day as a national holiday to honor all veterans.
He founded the National Veterans Day Volunteer Organization in Birmingham in 1947 and served as chairman until his death. President Ronald Reagan honored Mr. Weeks on Veterans Day 1982 at the White House on national television as he presented to him the Presidential Citizens Medal. The President had been briefed that Weeks was the “Father of Veterans Day,” and in his address to the nation thanked Mr. Weeks as the “driving force” for Veterans Day.
Weeks also served three terms in the Alabama State House of Representatives. He was active in many civic and veterans’ groups including the March of Dimes, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Civitan Club of Birmingham, and the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was honored with a National Community Service Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, a Distinguished Service Medal from the Governor of Alabama, in addition to the Presidential Citizens Medal given to him by President Ronald Reagan.
Bill Voigt (1985-2011)
Bill served his country with 30 years in the Alabama Air National Guard and another 5 years of service with the U.S. Air Force Reserve earning the rank of Colonel. Bill gave his time and efforts to an impressive and exhaustive list of nonprofits and service organizations. He was the founding President of the UAB National Alumni Society. He served as Executive Director of the Jefferson County Office of Senior Citizens Services, National President of the American Lung Association, President of United Cerebral Palsy of Alabama, President of Positive Maturity, and President of the Air Force Association of Alabama. For over 20 years, he served as the President of the National Veterans Day organization, putting on the largest Veterans Day celebration in the United States here in Birmingham.
Mark Ryan (2011-2024)
Mark Ryan read a newspaper article that said the Birmingham Veterans Day Parade might end because the former president was retiring and no one else had volunteered. Ryan took the reins as president in 2011 because, as a civilian, he wanted to honor veterans. Mark and his team of volunteers continued with the traditional events and awards and added the Soaring Eagle Award to honor service to veterans. Honorees can be civilian or military.
Mark and his team were faced with many obstacles over the years including (a) a starting bank balance of $500 in 2011, (b) the destruction and reconstruction of I20/59 affecting the traditional parade route, and (c) Covid-19 which closed the Awards Dinner venue and disallowed Parade Permits. Each time, these obstacles were overcome with hard work and creativity. When faced with cancelling all events due to Covid in 2020, the team put together a reduced capacity awards dinner in an alternate location and a virtual parade with current year shoutouts from veterans’ groups and band performances as well as clips from earlier parades. At the 2020 reduced capacity Awards Dinner, Ryan was caught off-guard and presented with the Soaring Eagle Award on his 10th anniversary as President.
Chad Carroll (2025 – Present)
Chad Carroll was elected as President following the 2024 Veterans Day Awards Dinner and Parade. Like his father and grandfather, Chad is serving as an Airman in the 117th Air Refueling Wing, a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard. Chad is very involved in serving veterans and is a member of the following organizations: City of Trussville Veterans Committee, Enlisted National Guard Association of Alabama, and the SSG Michael W Hosey American Legion Post 205.
Chad has been volunteering with the National Veterans Day foundation since 2022, most recently serving as the Foundation’s Vice President. His logistics work in the Guard will help ensure a well-organized Awards Dinner and Parade for years to come.