BPL Veterans Day Spotlight: Raymond Weeks

Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, the Father of Veterans Day 

 

Veterans Day photo from 1957. 

By Catherine Oseas|Central Library BPL Archives Department

 Raymond Weeks, born in Georgia in 1908, is considered “the father of Veteran’s Day”. He is credited with expanding Armistice Day (the day to honor those who served in the first World War) to honor veterans of all wars. This was granted in 1954 by Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Weeks was born in Georgia, but his family moved to Phenix City and, later, Birmingham, during his childhood. He attended Bush Elementary School and graduated from Ensley High School and Birmingham-Southern College. 

In 1942, Weeks enlisted in the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. He was granted his discharge on November 9, 1945. Weeks also served three terms in the Alabama State House of Representatives. 

Weeks 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.  He was honored with a National Community Service Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award, a Distinguished Service Medal from the Governor of Alabama.

A Presidential Citizenship Medal given to Weeks by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. Weeks died at age 76 on May 6, 1985.

 A granite Raymond Weeks Memorial was dedicated on the northwest corner of Linn Park on November 11, 2007. 

Scholarships in his name have been established at Birmingham-Southern, Samford University, and the University of Alabama.