Parade Grand Marshals are Veterans from World War II through Afghanistan, a Supermodel, and Military Sentry Dogs

News Release

For Immediate Release

For further information, contact: Paula Pedene, 480-772-2934, paula@pedene.com

Parade Grand Marshals are Veterans from World War II through
Afghanistan, a Supermodel, and Military Sentry Dogs

Time 11 a.m.
Date: Sat. 11/11

Place: North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ
85012

Media live shots available at 5:30 a.m. with floats, fire trucks,
twirlers and more!

Phoenix, AZ (Nov. 9, 2023) – Now in its 27^th year, this year’s Parade depicts the theme of Never Forget, Forever Honor. For the first time in the 2023 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, spectators will see a red, white, and blue eagle balloon with a wingspan of 25 feet which takes 35 cubic meters of helium to fill. A dozen volunteers manage it on the parade route.

Nearly 45,000 attendees will line the streets of Phoenix at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 to offer thanks to our nation’s veterans on Veterans Day.

“The veterans tell us every year the healing they receive from the parade touches them differently than traditional therapies do. We never knew a thank you from us to them could mean so much. The Parade and the community’s show of love and support is a healing event,” says U.S. Navy Veteran and Parade Coordinator Paula Pedene.

The parade is presented by the nonprofit Honoring America’s Veterans. Spectators can watch anywhere along the route. The parade begins at Montebello Street and Central Avenue, crosses East on Camelback, and turns South on 7^th Street. There are eighty-three entries in this year’s parade which is expected to last for about 1.5 hours.

“The best places to see – with the most convenient parking area are on Camelback Road and 7^th Street,” added Pedene. “This parade deeply touches the lives of our veterans as we remember and thank them for their sacrifice and protection of our freedom…”

Honoring America’s Veterans added a special group of Grand Marshals this year with the Salute to the Military Working Dogs, that includes members of the Vietnam Military Police Sentry Dog Alumni, who are holding their annual convention in Phoenix to tie into the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. Gary Smith is coordinating their reunion.

“Working with the Military Working Dogs was the best duty I ever had. Having them as a friend and a confidant is wonderful. It is also the hardest. When I left Vietnam, I knew my dog Rolf would not be alive much longer. In Vietnam, our dogs were military equipment, not living breathing friends,” says Smith.

This year’s Celebrity Grand Marshal is Supermodel Kim Alexis, who is a patriotic supporter and jumped at the chance to the Grand Marshal. She grew up in a steel town on the banks of Lake Erie. She traveled the world as one of the elite models with lights, cameras, and a global brand. Alexis knows our service members keep us safe.

“At heart, I’m very patriotic,” says Supermodel Kim Alexis. “I understand that the safety of my travels around the world was made possible by the men and women who serve day and night to protect our freedoms. We live in a great country, and we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans. It is touching to serve as a Grand Marshal, and when I see the veteran Grand Marshal’s that I will be riding with, it is  inspiring to have history come to life before my eyes,” she added.

She will join the Veterans Grand Marshals, selected from the Honor Our Heroes Program, representing Veterans from every foreign war or conflict from World War II through Afghanistan including:

• • • World War II, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay  
    • Korean War, U.S. Navy Veteran Jerry Hecht
    • Vietnam War, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Herbert Pierpan
    • Cold War, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Hugues Byrne
    • Operation Desert Storm, U.S. Army Veteran Pat Little-Upah
    • Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Air Force Veteran Jeff DeVore
    • Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), U.S. Army Veteran Amanda Tallman

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About Honoring America’s Veterans

Founded in 2011, Honoring America’s Veterans salutes veterans and their loved ones by thanking, honoring, and recognizing them for their service and patriotism to our country. HAV hosts the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, the Honor Our Heroes Campaign, the High School Essay Competition, the Veterans Leadership Forum, the Commemorating Pearl Harbor Day Event, and the Memorial Day Ceremony at the VA National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

Free parade Images are available at www.honoringamericasveterans.com

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