2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade: Time, Location, Honorees

PHOENIX – Arizona men and women who have served in the military will be honored Monday at the 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.

Seven military veterans and one celebrity – Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez – will serve as grand marshals for the 28th annual event, which begins at 11 a.m. on Central Avenue south of Bethany Home Road near the NPHX Church

The parade route runs south on Central, east on Camelback Road and south on Seventh Street until it ends at Indian School Road.

What is the theme of the 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade?

This year’s Phoenix Veterans Day parade’s theme is “Welcome Home, Vietnam Veterans: Sacrifices Remembered.”

David Hunt, whose military career spanned decades and two tours, was selected to represent the Vietnam era as grand marshal. He said the honor was a way for him to keep things in perspective and pay tribute to his comrades.

“Fifty-eight thousand never made it home, so if I can say something about honoring those people, I’m always in favor of it,” he said.

Retired Staff Sergeant Rosa Regalado, meanwhile, is serving as the Afghanistan War Grand Marshal for the 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. She said the parade is a platform to advocate for women in the military.

After serving nine tours in both the Army and Navy, she only now realized what a sacrifice it was.

“It wasn’t easy being a woman in the military, especially when you had children and had to leave them. Because at the end of the day you knew you had to complete the mission,” she said.

Regalado was the first woman in her family to join the military. She said that while it was difficult to get involved, it was never a question.

William Keim (World War II), William “Bill” Merdick (Korea), Thomas Kendra (Gulf War), James Wolfenden (Iraq War) and Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society Nancy Fassbender are the other veteran grand marshals.

Diamondbacks legend honored for role in 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade

Their commitment and the efforts of all veterans are appreciated by Gonzalez, who cemented his status as an Arizona sports hero with his game-winning hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

Gonzalez said he was honored to be able to express his gratitude to the veterans for their service as grand marshal, and he encouraged the public to attend to show their gratitude.

“This is an opportunity for the people who live here in Phoenix to say thank you for everything they have done for us; They are unsung heroes,” he said.