Heroes’ Week
Each year, the Semper Fi Community Task Force of North Alabama (SFCTF) is honored to host Heroes’ Week, a week full of food, new friends, and many exciting activities and new adventures!
Often, these American heroes and their families do not receive the welcome home that so many of our military are given after returning home. Many were in hospitals, recovering from injuries received in the line of duty, while their units completed the deployment and returned to a hero’s welcome.
We recently included first responders in the scope of our mission. Each year, local first responders who have been injured in the line of duty are nominated by their leadership and invited to attend Heroes’ Week.
This event gives our Tennessee Valley/Northern Alabama communities the chance to show their deep appreciation and recognition of these service members, their spouses, and caregivers.
Our guests are honored at the Huntsville, Alabama, Veterans’ Day parade, Marine Corps Ball, yacht cruises on Lake Guntersville, aerial tours of North Alabama by private pilots, and numerous lunches and dinners hosted by local organizations and businesses.
Please Note Our Nomination Process:
Military nominees are vetted and nominated by the individual services’ warrior transition units such as the US Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2P) and its Warrior Care and Transition Units (WCTUs), the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR) and its Wounded Warrior Battalion East (WWBn-E) and Wounded Warrior Battalion West (WWBn-W), the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2P), and the US Navy Wounded Warrior Program for the Navy and Coast Guard (NWWP, formerly known as Safe Harbor). First responders are also vetted and nominated through similar organizations.
The Welcome Home
Our visiting heroes and their caretakers arrive at the Huntsville International Airport via commercial air or vehicle from across the Country. They are met at the airport by hundreds of appreciative greeters from our local community.
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- These greeters include numerous youth and Veterans groups, Redstone Arsenal and Community leaders, our community partners and other local business representatives, school groups, and others across the local community.
Our guests are transported by motorcade to a local hotel in Huntsville with a police vanguard and the Patriot Guard Riders, Semper Fi Riders Motorcycle Clubs, and more as their escort.
Floating and Fellowship
During Heroes’ Week, guests are treated to a Yacht cruise and dinner on Lake Guntersville by the City of Guntersville, Guntersville’s Mayor, the Lake Guntersville Yacht Club, the Alabama State Marine Police and the City of Guntersville Fire Department Fireboat, AUSA – Redstone, and Vets with Vettes and Corvette Owners.
These groups all work together, hosting our guests for a relaxing and fun afternoon cruise around Lake Guntersville, followed by a delicious southern-style seafood dinner.
Humidor Pipe Shop
Each year, the Humidor Pipe Shop, a long-time and very generous sponsor, welcomes any of our guests who would like to visit the shop for a chance to sample their cigars and relax ahead of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
On the Friday before the Heroes’ Week Welcome events, the Humidor Pipe Shop hosts an major annual sale and donates all proceeds from that day to Heroes’ Week! If you are in Huntsville this November, be sure to stop by the Humidor to support the Task Force while you shop – for your self or others. It’s a great time to do a little holiday shopping!
Thank you, Robin Morgan, Chuck Facemire, and the Humidor Team for your continued and generous support of the Task Force, our mission, and our Heroes!
USMC Birthday Cake Cutting
This year, we added a sweet treat to the week! Our long-time community partners at PeopleTec invited our Heroes to join their team for a cake cutting to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday!
Celebratory Farewell
Celebrating Veterans Day (WEEK) in Huntsville and Madison County is an experience exclusive to this region. Our Heroes and caretakers ride in Corvettes driven by the Vets with Vettes and Corvette Owners Club, riding as Guests of Honor in the Huntsville Veterans’ Day Parade. They are treated to one more special luncheon with a little time to rest before concluding the week an Alabama-style Farewell BBQ Dinner and concert at Redstone Harley Davidson.
