VA VETERANS DAY PARADE HONORS ARIZONA VETERANS

The Phoenix VA Health Care System's annual Veterans Day parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, heading north on 7th Street from Montecito to Camelback Road, west on Camelback to Central Avenue, then north again on Central to Montebello, ending at the North Phoenix Baptist Church.

The parade, honoring Arizona veterans and service members who have served in combat, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief efforts and peacetime, is supported by the City of Phoenix and General Dynamics C4 Systems, this year's presenting sponsor.

With a theme of "Veterans, Our Resilient Heroes," the parade features 100 entries, including several large helium balloons like the Bald Eagle and Uncle Sam.

Veteran Grand Marshals are those who have fought in all the various conflicts over our history including World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Peacetime (Cold War) and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

Veterans organizations, floats, bands, military vehicles, color guards, a military flyover and the 108th Army National Guard Band are also part of this family activity.

Top sponsors, allowing VA to to recognize veterans, include General Dynamics C4 Systems; Arizona Department of Veterans Services; TriWest Health Care Alliance; Discount Tire; Bar S Foods; Operation Outreach, the Epilepsy Foundation; and the Veterans Medical Leadership Council.