Honoring America’s Veterans Spotlights Nine Heroes Across Generations of Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Paula Pedene
Executive Director, Honoring America’s Veterans
Phone: (480) 772-2934
Navideh Forghani

Email: newsmedia@honoringamericasveterans.org
Phone: (352) 281-0517

Website: https://HonoringAmericasVeterans.org

 Honoring America’s Veterans Spotlights Seven Heroes Across Generations of Service

• WHAT: News Conference to announce the Grand Marshals of the Honoring America’s Veterans, Phoenix Veterans Day Parade
• WHEN: 9 a.m., Thursday, October 16, 2023
• WHERE: Arizona State Capitol – Rose Garden in front of the Carl Hayden Memorial, 1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona-

PHOENIX, AZ — Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV) will announce the Grand Marshals for the 2025 HAV, Phoenix Veterans Day Parade at a news conference on Thursday, October 16, at the Arizona State Capitol.

Veteran Grand Marshals will be available to speak with the media about their military service and continued dedication to veterans. Each will ride in the upcoming HAV Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

These extraordinary veterans, whose courage, leadership, and lifelong service embody the mission of the Heroes Veterans Program, represent service eras from World War II to Afghanistan. Their stories remind us that the call to serve never truly ends.

World War II: Charles Johnson, U.S. Army – Phoenix, AZ: Drafted after Pearl Harbor, Charles Johnson served in the South Pacific from 1942–1945, ensuring vital supplies reached American troops. After the war, he founded the St. Martin De Porres Center to serve the poor and was ordained one of the first Permanent Deacons in Cleveland. Now past 100, he remains active in ministry and community life.

Korean War: MSgt (Ret.) Jerry Santy, U.S. Air Force – Goodyear, AZ: Jerry Santy joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952, serving 20 years and participating in the Cuban Missile Crisis and secret missions over Southeast Asia. After retirement, he founded the Montana Military Retirees Association and became a strong advocate for veterans’ healthcare and benefits.

Vietnam War: Roger Sandeen, U.S. Army – Scottsdale, AZ: Enlisting in 1968, Roger Sandeen deployed to Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division and was wounded in combat before returning to duty. His courage earned him 11 decorations, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He later built a 45-year career as a CPA and continues to mentor veterans in Arizona.

Cold War: CMDR (Ret.) Carl Forkner, U.S. Navy – Mesa, AZ: Navy veteran Carl Forkner served 28 years as a Naval Flight Officer and Surface Warfare Officer, flying missions from Libya to Antarctica. Aboard USS Carl Vinson, he helped launch the first strikes into Afghanistan after 9/11. Now CEO of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Arizona, he continues to lead and advocate for veterans statewide.

Desert Storm: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz, U.S. Air Force – Rio Verde, AZ: Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz served 29 years in the Air Force, pioneering the Armed Services’ Sexual Assault Response Program and leading the Ohio National Guard’s post-9/11 civilian-military outreach. Inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2025. Today, she continues her mission as President & CEO of Vanguard Veteran, LLC, equipping employers and communities to champion veterans in the workplace and beyond.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: CSM (Ret.) Rick Kreiberg, U.S. Army – Gilbert, AZ: Rick Kreiberg served 35 years in the U.S. Army, earning the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and nine Meritorious Service Medals. Deployed to Iraq in 2004, he later founded Veterans Affinity, a nonprofit organization that helps senior veterans across Arizona access housing, healthcare, and benefits.

Operation Enduring Freedom: MSG (Ret.) Wesley Brandon Reid U.S. Army – Goodyear, AZ: Wesley Brandon Reid spent over 20 years in the Army’s biomedical engineering, ensuring 99% uptime on lifesaving devices during his Afghanistan deployment. He later led training for more than 400 students annually and holds triple certifications achieved by fewer than 20 professionals worldwide.

Business Community Grand Marshal, Freddy Alvarez, U.S. Navy Submariner (Goodyear): Freddy Alvarez is an owner of five companies, and he says his leadership style blends strategic discipline with entrepreneurial courage. Drawing from his military precision and global business experience, he has built a reputation for identifying opportunities, empowering teams, and driving sustainable growth. His ability to turn challenges into measurable results has made him a respected figure in both the private and veteran business communities. Today, he calls Arizona home, where he and his wife, Laura, are raising four amazing sons. Together, they’ve built a family and a business legacy grounded in service, grit, and opportunity.

Celebrity Grand Marshal, U.S. Army Sergeant Randy Couture, Heavyweight Champion, Actor, Businessman, and Brand Ambassador:  Before he became a heavyweight champion, movie star, and entrepreneur, Randy Couture was a young man in Army green, training, wrestling, and discovering what he was truly made of. From 1982 to 1988, Couture served in the 101st Airborne Division, rising to the rank of
sergeant. His years in uniform didn’t just shape his body; they shaped his
mind, his leadership, and his future. As a member of the Army wrestling team,
Couture’s talent flourished. It was there he learned to dig deeper, to believe
in himself, and to push past limits. That grit carried him through college at
Oklahoma State, and later, into the world of Mixed Martial Arts, where he would
go on to become a six-time UFC world champion. Yet even in the spotlight,
Couture never lost sight of his military roots.

 “I wore the uniform. I understand the commitment and the discipline,” he once said. “I didn’t have to go into combat, but I’ve met so many who did, and who gave so much. I’m honored to stand with them.”

Couture is now a brand ambassador for Four Branches Bourbon, a unique brand created by four military servicemembers. 

“These veterans represent the very best of America’s legacy of service,” said Paula Pedene, Executive Director of Honoring America’s Veterans. “From the battlefields to their communities, they remind us that service isn’t just a chapter in life, it’s a lifelong mission.”

Honoring America’s Veterans celebrates service year-round through the HAV Veterans Day Parade, educational programs, and community outreach, ensuring that the sacrifices of all veterans are honored and remembered.

About Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV):

Founded in 2011, Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting communities in recognizing the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans. Through events, education, and advocacy, HAV ensures that veterans are honored, supported, and never forgotten.

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