Governor Ivey Proclaims Veterans Week, Touts Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Success

Governor Ivey proclaims Alabama Veterans Week Nov. 5–11, highlights ADVA successes

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Starting tomorrow, Alabama will spend a full week honoring the more than 400,000 veterans who call the state home. Governor Kay Ivey signed the proclamation Tuesday, officially designating November 5 through 11, 2026, as Veterans Week—a timing that places the celebration directly on the heels of America’s 250th birthday and just ten weeks before the governor prepares to close out her final term in office.

With Ivey’s tenure set to end on January 18, 2027, this Veterans Week serves as a thank-you to veterans from an administration that created a cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs. Her office, which announced the proclamation, framed the week as a reaffirmation of a promise made eight years ago: that Alabama would work harder for those who served, giving them not just gratitude but a seat at the table in state government.

“Alabama has a proud tradition of supporting the men and women who serve our country, and I am committed to making sure that continues,” Governor Ivey said. “Our veterans have given so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy, and they deserve a state that works hard for them.”

A Cabinet-Level Promise Kept

When Ivey took office, she fundamentally changed how the state approaches veterans services by creating the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs as a cabinet-level agency. That structural shift meant veterans issues would no longer be buried in a subordinate office but would have direct access to the governor’s attention. Over the past year, that commitment has translated into visible progress on the ground, from restored facilities to expanded burial services.

Governor Ivey proclaims Alabama Veterans Week Nov. 5–11, highlights ADVA successes

Perhaps no example illustrates this dedication better than the Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home. After a fire struck the facility in April 2025, the department worked alongside state and local partners to restore the building and welcome residents back in late September of that year. The fire resulted in no injuries, and the successful return demonstrated what the administration calls a commitment to ensuring veterans continue receiving safe, quality care even through crisis.

Expanding Dignity and Access Across the State

Mid-October brought another milestone when Alabama broke ground on the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery – North Alabama.

The infrastructure investments pair with a broader coordination effort established through SB70, which created the Alabama Veterans Resource Center as a public-private partnership. The center unites state agencies, Veterans Service Organizations, and community partners to establish a single hub for veterans, simplifying access to federal and state benefits. Through ADVA’s statewide network of Veterans Service Offices, the department continues its everyday mission of helping veterans, dependents, and survivors access the assistance they have earned through their service.

Turning Service into Opportunity

Beyond facilities and coordination, Ivey’s administration has pushed through a series of specific legislative measures designed to ease the transition from military to civilian life. These include expanded employment preferences for military spouses, who often face career interruptions due to frequent relocations; the elimination of annual homestead exemption verification for qualifying permanently and totally disabled veterans, reducing bureaucratic burden for those with the most severe service-connected disabilities; and a temporary teaching certification pathway for eligible veterans, opening classroom doors to those with leadership experience. The state also expanded Alabama National Guard tuition assistance to cover workforce development training, provided tax relief for qualifying National Guard income, and recognized military training toward professional licensure—acknowledging that skills learned in uniform translate directly to Alabama’s workforce needs in fields from healthcare to skilled trades.

“Governor Ivey has made supporting Alabama’s veterans a priority, and her leadership has helped create opportunities for us to expand our reach and strengthen the services we provide,” said ADVA Commissioner Jeff Newton. “Our employees work every day to turn that commitment into action, whether by helping a veteran access earned benefits, caring for residents in our State Veterans Homes, expanding cemetery services or developing partnerships that improve overall wellbeing. We are proud of the progress we’ve made under her leadership and remain focused on doing even more for the men and women who served our country.”

From Week to Day to Legacy

Veterans Week will culminate with the national observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, but the governor’s focus on state momentum continues beyond the holiday. Before Ivey leaves office on January 18, 2027, she has signaled she will continue highlighting Alabama’s progress, having just ushered in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s latest graduating class of State Troopers last week.

For the 400,000 veterans across Alabama, the proclamation offers more than a week of ceremonies.

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