MADISON – Patriotic music will lift spirits of the audience as they lift up military personnel in gratitude and prayer at the 15th annual YMCA Veterans Prayer Breakfast. Heart of the Valley YMCA is sponsor.

Craig and Steven Hogan Family YMCA in Madison will host the event on Nov. 5. Doors will open at 6:45 a.m. for check-in and a coffee social. The program will start promptly at 7:30 a.m.

“The YMCA has had over 100 years of historical commitment serving and honoring veterans,” Jerry Courtney, President/CEO of Heart of the Valley YMCA, said. “The Veterans Prayer Breakfast, which is in partnership with the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition, serves as a continuation of our effort to let our military heroes, both those who have served previously and those currently serving, know that they are cherished and valued in our community.”

As the first event of Veterans Week in the Tennessee Valley, the breakfast will adopt the theme, “Courage, Sacrifice and Duty, Honoring our Military Veterans.” Brigadier General Christine A. Beeler will give the keynote address. Beeler serves as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Contracting Command.

Event emcee will be Bill Koch, Chief Operations Officer for Still Serving Veterans and Executive Vice President of the Veterans Coalition. Offering prayers will be George Baker, Chaplin of North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organization Coalition, and Dr. David Freeman, Senior Pastor of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville.

Advance tickets will be available through Nov. 3 at ymcahuntsville.org/VETERANS, by emailing events@ymcahuntsville.org or calling 256-428-9622, ext. 3008. Individual tickets cost $25, and sponsor tables are open $300.

Organizers encourage table sponsors to offer available seats so veterans can join them for the meal. Veterans can contact the YMCA to request a free ticket while they last.

Veterans Week recognition at the YMCA includes free admission for all veterans and those with valid Military I.D. to include their families from Nov. 6-13 at all YMCA branches: Downtown Express YMCA, Southeast Family YMCA in Huntsville and Hogan Family YMCA in Madison.

In Heart of the Valley’s ongoing commitment to support the total family, the YMCA offers free membership to soldiers before and after deployment and to their families while their loved one is away. In addition, summer camp and respite child care is free to families of deployed military.

In 2020, Heart of the Valley YMCA provided more than $66,000 to military members and their families in fee assistance.