Gov. Kay Ivey honored the service and sacrifice of Alabama’s more than 400,000 veterans Wednesday with a proclamation designating Nov. 5–11 as Veterans Week. In announcing the observance, Ivey highlighted how her administration has expanded care, benefits and services for veterans and their families.

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

“From giving veterans a seat at the table through the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs to expanding services and resources across our state, we have made great strides in keeping that promise. This Veterans Week, I encourage every Alabamian to join me in thanking our veterans for their service and sacrifice.”

For residents of the Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home, one of those efforts meant getting to come home. A fire damaged the facility in April 2025. No one was injured, and the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs worked with state and local partners to restore the home. Residents returned in late September.

In mid-October, Alabama broke ground on the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery – North Alabama. The cemetery will give veterans and eligible family members another option for burial in a state veterans cemetery.

The state has also taken steps to make it easier for veterans and their families to find help. Senate Bill 70 established a public-private partnership to create the Alabama Veterans Resource Center, which brings together state agencies, veterans service organizations and community partners. Through its statewide network of Veterans Service Offices, the department also helps veterans, dependents and survivors navigate state and federal benefits.

“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 Jeff Newton, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.

Newton added,“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.”

During Ivey’s tenure, Alabama also eliminated the annual homestead exemption verification requirement for qualifying veterans who are permanently and totally disabled. The state created a temporary teaching certification pathway for eligible veterans, began recognizing military training and experience toward professional licensure and expanded employment preferences for military spouses.

Other measures expanded Alabama National Guard tuition assistance to cover workforce development training and provided tax relief for qualifying National Guard income.

This is Ivey’s final Veterans Week as governor before her term ends Jan. 18, 2027. The week concludes Wednesday, Nov. 11, with the national observance of Veterans Day. Ivey and the department encouraged Alabamians to thank and support veterans throughout the year.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].