Booking is now available for the 2025-26 school year. We invite you and your students to experience the stories of America’s journey for independence, liberty and self-government. Step into the scene and experience the risks, uncertainties, and dramatic events as they unfolded during America’s revolutionary decision to declare its independence. The American Village offers an opportunity for your students to become active participants in “Securing the Blessings of Liberty” and leave with a better foundation for good citizenship. More than a field trip, the American Village educational programs are tied directly to objectives in state courses of study in history, citizenship (civics) and government, as well as graduation standards. Students from every grade level benefit as they participate in experiential learning. Unique in its mission to strengthen and renew the foundations of American liberty and self-government through citizenship education, the American Village is an educational experience like no other! Download the 2025-2026 Catalog of Educational Programs.

Monday, May 26 Free admission – open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Remember America’s fallen at an 11:00 a.m. service in the Colonial Chapel. Explore the 188-acre American Village campus, including replicas of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the President’s Oval Office, Concord Bridge, and the West Wing of Independence Hall. Military vehicles and re-enactors will be onsite as well. Family-friendly activities are offered from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A number of food trucks will be available for lunch and snack options, as well as the new Merchants’ Coffee House.

Event Description The name of this event says it all… Because of the Brave!  We love this country and all of us enjoy the freedom of living in the United States of America.  However, the freedom we enjoy came at a price.  On Memorial Day 2025, come out and join us in an event that truly honors the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  Because of the Brave 5K is truly about reflecting on this sacrifice that was made by so many of our heroes. These men and women carried their American flag and served our country with honor.  What better way to honor them, than to carry an American flag while running/walking a 5K?  As part of this event, each runner/walker will carry a 2’x 3’ American flag during the entire 5K course.  The flag will be affixed to a pole so it will be easy to carry.  The flag and pole together will be light so even children will be able to participate. This event is not about you and, therefore, is not a race.  You can run/walk at whatever pace you would like to, but this is not a timed 5K event. Because of the Brave 5K is being hosted by the American Village.  The Alabama National Cemetery next door to the American Village is the final resting place for thousands of our brave heroes.  A portion of your entry fee will be donated to both the Alabama National Cemetery and the American Village. Because of the Brave 5K starts at 7:00 AM.  This allows runners/walkers to finish the 5K and have plenty of time to visit the Alabama National Cemetery at 9:00 AM for their annual Memorial Day Service, and the American Village for their annual Memorial Day Celebration at 11:00 AM.  So, come out and run Because of the Brave 5K, visit the Alabama National Cemetery’s Memorial Day Service, the American Village Memorial Day Celebration, and enjoy the afternoon at American Village for a full day of honoring the fallen and fun with the family! Course Description The 5K course will wind throughout the beautiful grounds at American Village.  The course consists of a 1.55-mile loop and will be clearly marked with patriotic flags.  Runners/walkers must complete the loop twice to finish the course and complete the 5K distance.  The entire course will be on paved surfaces, so strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. Time and Location Memorial Day: Monday May 26, 2025 @ 7:00 AM Because of the Brave 5K will be held at American Village in Montevallo, Alabama. Address: 3727 Highway 119 Montevallo, AL 35115 The GPS coordinates of the parking lot you’ll want to park in are: (33.137730, -86.829740) Packet Pickup There is no early packet pickup for this event.  Race day packet pickup will be at the start/finish line which will be located near the main parking lots of American Village.  There will be plenty of parking and access to restrooms.  Packet pickup will be from 5:30 AM to 6:30 AM.  A pre-run briefing will take place at 6:40 AM.  The 5K run/walk will begin at 7:00 AM sharp. Runners will receive a 2’ x 3’American flag attached to a pole at packet pickup. We will also have a custom Because of the Brave 5K flag near the start/finish line.  Please come prepared to write the name of a hero or heroes that you will be running/walking the 5K in honor of.  This flag will come back annually at each future Because of the Brave 5K event and be on display during the run.  This, again, ensures we never forget the names of our heroes who died for this country. Swag All runners/walkers will receive a custom Because of the Brave 5K challenge coin at the finish line.  Runners/walkers will exchange the American flag they’ve carried during the 5K course for the challenge coin.  Challenge coins are commonly exchanged within the military.  Another way to honor the brave is to keep this tradition.  This challenge coin will be something you can take away from this event as a reminder of the freedom we have “Because of the Brave!”  There will be no awards given to the top finishers.  Again, this is not a race but rather an event to honor those brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Be sure to sign up by May 1st, 2025, to guarantee that you’ll receive the custom challenge coin. Aid Station We will provide one water station during the course at the start/finish line area.  Runners/walkers will be able to hydrate at the halfway point and at the finish line.  Fruit will also be provided at the finish line. Contact Us If you have any questions about this event, contact us at therunningbirds11@gmail.com For more information about the American Village visit their website: https://www.americanvillage.org/ For more information about the Alabama National Cemetery visit their website: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/alabama.asp Donations In addition to a portion of your entry fee that will be donated to the American Village and the Alabama National Cemetery, you can make a donation of any amount to either or both of them.  Any additional donations will go straight to American Village and/or the Alabama National Cemetery. Run Sign Up https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Montevallo/5KBecauseOfTheBrave

The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 1. Ticket purchase is now closed. At the American Village, we will have a Prayer Breakfast, beginning at 8:00 a.m. This year’s speaker is Edie Hand. Edie Hand is the founder and international author of Women of True Grit, a sisterhood and community stemmed from The Edie Hand Foundation that takes stories and turns them into empowerment for women to succeed in business and in life. The Edie Hand Foundation started over fifteen years ago in honor of her three young Blackburn brothers she lost too soon. Having gone through irritations such as loss, grief, illness, and set-backs Edie exemplifies “True Grit” and has built a movement transforming challenges into Pearls of Hope. GRIT stands for “Great Resilience Is Transformative” and Edie is passionate and devoted to supporting women and providing them the tools to do hard things and turn them into beautiful situations. The message she shares is not heart warming, its heart moving and aims to build strength in whichever audience is listening and encourage them to know they are not alone in facing their hardships with “Pearls On, Swords Up!” Edie also comes from a wonderful family heritage of songwriting, acting, and music from the Hood-Hacker-Presley family. Her legendary cousin was Elvis Presley. Introducing Edie and saying a few words at the Prayer Breakfast will be former Alabama First Lady Patsy Riley, one of the Women of True Grit featured in Edie’s book. Gracie Harris, Miss North Alabama Teen, will be singing for our program.