Nancy Fassbender

“It is my honor to be selected to be the Grand Marshal for the Phoenix Veterans Day parade. My mission is to thank all the veterans and especially welcome home the Vietnam veterans. Because of them, the Department of Defense changed the military and understood they needed updated equipment, and uniforms that would be for the environment that they had to be in. I also want the children to understand what it takes to cherish and enjoy their freedom. That is why I include children in my events. I want them to be able to meet and thank a veteran.”

Nancy Fassbender joined the Army National Guard in 1975. She was a helicopter mechanic and worked on Huey helicopters. She was honorably discharged in 1978 as an E4.
She is a former board member and historian for the Pinal County Veterans Memorial Foundation. She is the author of the book, “My Fallen Hero.”

Nancy is an honorary member of East Valley POW Chapter and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter 2560.
Nancy has done many veterans events in the Valley. This is her fourth year with Wreaths Across America for honoring interred veterans in the East Valley at Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa.

In 2020, she was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society. Only one-tenth of 1% of veterans in Arizona receive this high honor. She is currently serving as a board director to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society Board.

For the past six years, Nancy has served as an active member and ambassador of the Apache Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys networking with other companies as well as being an ambassador, spreading the word about the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon community. In October, Nancy was awarded the 2022 Community Cup award for her volunteerism in making a difference in her community.
Nancy has made it her mission to thank Vietnam veterans and welcome them home. She has done over 100 pinning ceremonies since she started four years ago. In 2023, Nancy was asked by the Department of Defense to organize a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans celebration, which drew about 1,800 people. At the ceremony, she was honored with the Quilt of Valor.

In 2023, she also was honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution and was presented the Community Service Award.