06/06/2026
Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday
Alabama’s “City of Valor” will be celebrating America’s Semi Quincentennial, or its 250th birthday, Saturday in Historic Downtown Leeds.
Saturday’s (June 13) community-wide party honors America’s history and three Medal of Honor recipients from Leeds. Festivities begin with a patriotic bicycle parade by Leeds children, live musical performances, a “City of Valor” mural dedication and a massive block party.
The Children’s Patriotic Bicycle Parade will get things underway, starting at the Leeds Chamber of Commerce office on the corner of 8th Street and Parkway Drive at 5:30 p.m. Children are encouraged to decorate bikes, wagons, and scooters in red, white and blue.
Prizes will be awarded for the most festive decor. Children wishing to participate in the patriotic bike parade can have their parents register them through Google Forms Bike Parade Sign-up.
The parade concludes at the new mural added to the wall of the Leeds Jane Culbreth Library. The mural celebrates three Leeds Medal of Honor recipients, who were awarded the nation’s highest military honor for acts of extraordinary valor.
Recipients from Leeds begin with Lieutenant Colonel William R. Lawley Jr. A World War II Army Air Forces pilot, Lawley received the medal for his actions in February 1944. When his B-17 bomber was crippled by enemy fire and his crew was severely wounded, Lawley stayed at the controls despite his own serious injuries. He successfully piloted the aircraft away from hostile territory and crash-landed in friendly lines.
Staff Sergeant Henry E. "Red" Erwin, serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, earned his medal in April 1945 during a bombing raid over Japan. When a phosphorus smoke bomb malfunctioned and landed in the aircraft, Erwin grabbed the burning canister with his bare hands, shielding his face, and threw it out a window to save his crew, enduring severe, life-threatening burns.
A Marine in the Korean War, Master Sergeant Alford L. McLaughlin earned the Medal of Honor in September 1952 for his heroic defense of a combat outpost in Korea. Though facing heavy enemy assault, he single-handedly held his position, utilizing two machine guns, a carbine, and grenades to repel multiple attacks and inflict massive casualties on the enemy.
The program opens with the Leeds High School Band playing the Star-Spangled Banner and Mayor Eddie Moore welcoming everyone while thanking each Leeds civic group who combined efforts to help with the celebration. The First Baptist Handbell Choir will then perform.
Leeds resident and Vietnam veteran Frank Little will give the keynote address and introduce the new mural on the wall of the Jane Culbreth Memorial Library. Dan Seymour, the artist who painted the mural and is also a veteran, will also be in attendance and recognized by Mayor Moore.
Prompted by Mayor Moore, the LHS Band will play while veterans from each branch of the armed forces in attendance stand and are recognized for their service.
The celebration will end with the performance of “City of Valor” written by Chip Wise, followed by the presentation of the parade awards by Mayor Moore.
"Party in the USA" concludes with a community birthday bash featuring music, bouncy houses and food trucks from Battle Axes, Get Fried, Stephen’s Hot Dog Wagon and Lucy Taco, all located between Regions Bank and Three Eared Rabbitt.
https://facebook.com/events/s/the-city-of-valor-celebrates-a/774503025615742/
