Blue Star Salute is a concerted effort by local, state and national military, political, veteran and caring citizen groups and organizations who have set aside A Blue Star Salute Day as a particularly significant appreciation day to America's military services of all Branches, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and the historical United States Merchant Marines.
Alabama's first organized Salute was held on Memorial Day in 2005 at The American Village, Montevallo and was co-hosted by The American Legion of Alabama, Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution and The American Village Citizenship Trust, Gold Star Mothers and Wives of America. We combined our Blue Star Salute to the military services with a somber Gold Star Salute to our Fallen Heroes.
Given the rapid development and growth of the Alabama National Cemetery and its relevant annual Memorial Day Commemoration as well as the expressed interests of other venues, sites, Communities and Cities throughout Alabama to locally co-host annual Blue Star Salutes in their areas; and, given the priorities being held to continue to support and participate in the Memorial Day events at the Alabama National Cemetery and The American Village, a decision was made in October 2012 to seek to honor requests of other sites to co-host our Annual Salutes at other venues where invited AND to schedule such Annual Blue Star Salutes to be held on Armed Forces Day rather than Memorial Day. Therefore, on Armed Forces Day (May 18th, 2013) the Ninth Annual Blue Star Salute was scheduled to be held at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, co-hosted by the BSSFI, South Alabama Veterans Council, the Alabama Battleship Commission and the City of Mobile.
Alabama’s Blue Star Salute has continued to be held annually at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park ever since, with the exception of 2020 (COVID-19). The 18th Annual Salute is scheduled to be held on May 20, 2023 at the Battleship Park. See below for more information on this year's event.
Also, scroll down for slide shows and videos of past events.
