The YMCA’s Veterans Prayer Breakfast is scheduled for November 1st

MADISON – For the 18th year, Heart of the Valley YMCA presents the annual Veterans Prayer Breakfast, a community event honoring past and present local military veterans.

Craig and Steven Hogan Family YMCA in Madison will host the breakfast on November 1st.

Doors open at 6:45 a.m. for check-in and coffee. The formal program begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. The event marks the official start of Veterans Week in the Tennessee Valley.

The Veterans Prayer Breakfast is held in partnership with the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition. The program honors the “courage, sacrifice and duty” of military personnel and includes musical performances, a prayer ceremony and an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding service to veterans.

“The city of Madison, our educators and youth organization leaders do a great job honoring our servicemen and women during Veterans Week,” said Jean Downs. Downs is vice commander of the Madison American Legion, Post 229.

“All schools, our Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and JROTC units show an incredible amount of support by placing flags on graves, handing out hundreds of cards and letters and donating gifts to local veterans,” Downs said.

For 2024, the breakfast will include two inspiring keynote speeches from distinguished guest speakers: CW5 (ret.) Dr. Harry Hobbs, vice president of employee engagement at Huntsville Utilities, and Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command.

“For more than 100 years, the YMCA has been dedicated to supporting and empowering our veterans, and the Veterans Prayer Breakfast is an important part of that mission,” said Jeff Collen, Interim CEO of Heart of the Valley. “This event is particularly meaningful to the YMCA as we come together to recognize and honor the sacrifices made by those who defended our freedoms.”

“We invite the entire community to join us in this heartfelt celebration and show our shared gratitude for the men and women who have served our country,” Collen said.

Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the YMCA Military Outreach Program, which provides essential services and support to veterans and their families. The program offers scholarships, discounted or free memberships and access to YMCA programs designed to support the health and well-being of local active military members and their families.

The YMCA is offering free admission to all Y locations: Downtown Express YMCA, Southeast Family YMCA in Huntsville and Hogan Family YMCA in Madison from November 1-11 to all veterans, those with valid military ID and their families.

Sponsorships are available for the prayer breakfast.

The Heart of the Valley YMCA office address is 238 Business Park Blvd., Building 23B, Suite 101 in Madison.

Tickets are $35. For more information or to purchase breakfast tickets, call (256) 428-9622, ext. 208, or visit ymcahuntsville.org/VPB.