Phoenix Parade Marks 30 Years of Honoring Veterans

Phoenix’s Veterans Day parade brought tens of thousands of spectators to Midtown on November 11, as the event marked its 30th year. The procession started at 11 a.m. and continued for about two hours along Third Street, from McDowell Road to Indian School Road. Organizers had anticipated more than 45,000 spectators and thousands of participants.

Army bands performed as children waved flags and handed out programs. Veterans described feeling moved by the crowd’s support. Stephen Bass, who served in Korea and Vietnam, said watching the parade made him emotional. Joshua Duboise said he joined the Army after seeing the September 11 attacks while attending college.

The event also drew families seeking to pass on the meaning of military service. Twelve-year-old Gavin Duboise said his father’s Army service had inspired him to consider helping people in a similar way. Spectator Veronica Dominguez brought her children, continuing a tradition she remembered from her own childhood. Veteran Ken Bucy said small gestures of appreciation and help matter to veterans.