North Alabama holds inaugural North Alabama Patriot Trail Celebration in Athens
ATHENS – In celebration of Veterans Day, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) held the inaugural North Alabama Patriot Trail in Honor of Veterans Celebration and announced two new travel tools designed to enrich the experience of visitors on the North Alabama Patriot Trail.
The patriot celebration was held at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens last week and featured keynote speakers Major General Janet Cobb, executive director of the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park and Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin.
The North Alabama Patriot Trail showcases significant landmarks that commemorate the valor of America’s veterans, featuring locations such as memorial parks, veterans’ memorials and museums. With the new travel tools, AMLA seeks to provide a more connected and immersive journey for travelers wishing to pay tribute and learn about North Alabama’s proud military history.
New Travel Tools Include:
• North Alabama Patriot Trail GeoTour Passport: Geocaching is a global, outdoor treasure hunt using GPS-enabled devices.
More than 3 million geocaches are hidden in over 190 countries worldwide, with over 7 million active participants. The “caches” come in all shapes, sizes and difficulty, navigating participants through clues and coordinates via cell phone. It is a fun, free and family-friendly outdoor activity that anyone can do at any time.
AMLA has 19 caches hidden around the region designed to take participants on a patriotic adventure through North Alabama. To play, download a passport from www. northalabama.org/thingsto- do/sports-recreation/ geocaching/. Register for a free account on geocaching. com and download the app. Use the clues and coordinates to navigate to the corresponding caches and record the date the cache was found on the passport. Cachers who record 15 of the 19 locations are eligible to receive a North Alabama Patriot Trail Geocoin.
• North Alabama Patriot Trail Mobile Pass: A new digital passport available via Bandwango, this free platform highlights 61 patriot sites found on the North Alabama Patriot Trail. Before or during a visit to North Alabama, visitors can sign up for the digital passport from www.northalabama.org/places-to-visit/ trails/patriot-trail/. Bandwango will then send a passport link to the user’s phone providing convenient access during their trip. Those checking in at 25 locations will earn a free prize from AMLA.
“AMLA seeks to provide a more connected and immersive journey for travelers wishing to pay tribute and learn about North Alabama’s proud military history,” stated AMLA President/CEO Tami Reist. “We’re excited to provide visitors with tools that make the North Alabama Patriot Trail more accessible and meaningful. By honoring our veterans through this immersive experience, we hope to keep the spirit of their service alive for future generations.”
During the inaugural North Alabama Patriot Trail in Honor of Veterans Celebration held at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, AMLA welcomed veterans and active military from Limestone County. Plans are to rotate the celebration to a different county in AMLA’s 16 county region in following years.
The two hour program featured keynote speakers Major General Janet Cobb, executive director of the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park and Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin. Vets Like Us and the Limestone County Veterans Service Office provided outreach tables and there were refreshments, video presentations and patriotic music.
AMLA developed and released the new trail and accompanying brochure highlighting for visitors and residents destinations and events that honor all those who have served or are currently serving in the military forces of America. The North Alabama Patriot Trail offers a self-guided tour of 79 patriotic stops in the 16 northernmost counties of Alabama. The brochure is a 12-page handy guide to memorial parks, museums, memorials, markers, archives, noteworthy locations, festivals, specials events and parades to visit in the 16 northernmost counties of North Alabama (Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties). The listings contain a description, address, phone number and website so travelers can easily plan a visit.
“The North Alabama Patriot Trail joins AMLA’s 10 existing trails and is part of our overall initiative to attract visitors while honoring those who have served or are currently serving in our country’s Armed Forces,” said Reist. “In developing this trail, we wanted to put patriotism on full display. Here in North Alabama, we are proud of the brave veterans who have made significant sacrifices for our nation’s freedom and the North Alabama Patriot Trail and brochure are a symbol of our gratitude for their service.”
A copy of the North Alabama Patriot Trail brochure is available for download at www.northalabama.org/places-to-visit/ trails/patriot-trail/, may be picked up at the AMLA office located at 402 Sherman Street SE in Decatur or may be requested by calling 800.648.5381.
For information on other things to see, do and experience in North Alabama, visit www.northalabama.org.
