Honoring America's Veterans invites you to a News Conference to introduce the Grand Marshals for the 28th annual Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.
- What: News Conference to announce the Grand Marshals of the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade
- Time: 10 a.m.
- Date: October 10, 2024
- Place: Banner Health Corporate Center
2901 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85012
(NE Corner, Courtyard)
Seven Veteran Grand Marshals, Celebrity Grand Marshal former Arizona Diamondback and Major League Baseball World Series Winner Luis Gonzalez, and President, Banner Plans and Networks, Banner Health Chuck Lehn will be available to speak to the media about their military service and support of veterans. Each will ride in the upcoming Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, set for 11 a.m. on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Honoring America's Veterans, the nonprofit that presents the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, is pleased to announce the Grand Marshals for 2024. They are:
- World War II, U.S. Merchant Marines Junior Engineer William Keim, Scottsdale, AZ
Keim joined the U.S. Merchant Marines in 1943 at the age of 17. After training at Sheepshead Bay, N.Y., he shipped out of San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, where he worked as an oiler in the engine room, and brought food, arms and ammunition to troops. He spent over a year in the Battle of the Atlantic, where he was awarded the Convoy Cup Medal for service in an active war zone. Keim was president of the Desert Mariners, a group of USMM vets, for about seven years in Phoenix. He took part in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. several years ago and in return, spoke at fundraisers for the organization. He is an honorary member of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., American Merchant Marine Veterans and a 32nd Degree Mason. After being discharged in 1946 as a Junior Engineer, Keim returned to St. Louis to marry Hazel Leimbach. He worked as a draftsman, a fabrication pipe salesman and a mechanical contractor. - Korean War, Navy Yeoman 3rd Class William Merdick, Peoria, AZ
Merdick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951, where he was stationed at the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic Headquarters in Norfolk, VA. During the Korean War, he had top-secret clearance for the United States as well as NATO cosmic top-secret clearance where he would write up official war plans for the officers. After he was released from active duty in 1954, Merdick and his wife Linda moved back to Arizona where he became an engineer for a telephone company. They were married for 59 years before Linda went home to heaven. Now Merdick resides in Peoria and has three sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. - Vietnam War, Army CW04 David Hunt, Waddell, AZ
Hunt was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1966 when he was assigned to the 82nd ABN Division at Fort Braggs, NC He was later transferred to the 101st ABN Division and was deployed with a Co, 1/502 Infantry 101st ABN in 1967. In 1968 Hunt was wounded and sent back to the states where he was then discharged from active duty at Fort Lewis, WA. In 1982 he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves where he served in post security but shortly after he transferred to the Army reserves in 1985. He then became an Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) agent in the reserves. In 2003 Hunt was activated with his unit in the 307th MP. Det. (CID) and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. He was later transferred to the Active Guard Reserve and sent back to the states to help set up a new Army reserve CID unit in Phoenix. He served as the commander and operations office until he retired from the Army reserve as Chief Warrant Officer 4, on Feb. 1, 2008. - Cold War, Army veteran SP4 Nancy Fassbender, Gold Canyon, AZ
Fassbender joined the Army National Guard in 1975 where she worked as a mechanic on the Huey helicopters. She was honorably discharged in 1978 as an E4 and became a board member and historian for the Pinal County Veterans Memorial Foundation. Fassbender is the author of the book, “My Fallen Hero.” She is also an honorary member of East Valley POW Chapter and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter 2560. She has worked with Wreaths Across America honoring veterans and in 2020 she was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society. For the past six years Fassbender has served as an active member and ambassador of the Apache Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and in 2022 she was awarded the Community Cup award for her volunteerism. She currently serves as a board director to the Arizona Veterans hall of Fame Society Board. - Desert Storm, U.S. Army Veteran SP4 Thomas Kendra, Scottsdale, AZ
Kendra enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 in 1987 as a Specialist 4 Infantry soldier. After basic training he was stationed with the 101st Airborne division as an assistant gunner for a 60mm mortar squad where he progressed to become squad leader. As a member of B company 3/327th Infantry, he participated in special company training courses, frequently acting as opposed forces for the Mechanized Infantry trained at Fort Knox. He also attended the Air Assault School, Combat Lifesavers Course and Primary Leadership Development courses. Kendra was discharged from Active Duty as an Infantry Squad Leader just 10 days after Iraq forces invaded Kuwait after being one of the first to have boots on the ground in Saudi Arabia. - Afghanistan War, Army/Navy Staff Sergeant, Rosa Regalado, Chandler, AZ.
Regalado was born and raised in the tiny town of Manzanola,Colorado. She looked up to her uncle, Juan Martinez who served in the U.S. army. As a young girl she told her mother that she wanted to be a pilot and fly planes so she could save people. Regalado joined the military in 1999 as the only female in her family to join the U.S. Navy. She completed 3 combat tours in the U.S. Navy and 6 combat tours in the U.S. Army, holding multiple jobs as operation specialist, medical operations and automated logistics specialist. While on active duty she also earned two college degrees; an associate of arts in dental assisting and a bachelor’s degree in community programs support services from the University of Phoenix. After enduring many injuries from combat, she retired from the service in 2008 as a Staff Sergeant, and has continued work in the medical and dental field. She continues empowering women by volunteering as a basketball coach for teenage girls in Fountain, Colorado, and sending her support to women who continue to serve. - Iraq War, Marine Corps Sergeant, James Wolfenden, Phoenix, AZ
Wolfenden joined the Marine Corps in 2003 after graduating high school and serving as a wildland firefighter for the Prescott Fire Department. Wolfenden was passionate about serving after 9/11 and served in multiple combat deployments in Fallujah and other hot spots during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in 3rd Bn 4th Marines and 1st Bn 5th Marines. He also served as a professional marksmanship instructor and a recruiter in New York City. Wolfenden received numerous combat-related awards and was honorably discharged after more than 8 years of service with a rank of Sergeant. After being discharged, he served as a police officer with both the Tucson and Phoenix police departments and was medically retired in 2017 in a severe injury while on-duty. In his free time, Wolfenden is dedicated to helping veterans and first responders, coaching football at Brophy College Preparatory, and traveling with his family. He is a proud father to his two children; Brody and Brooklyn, and husband to Dina Wolfenden. - Celebrity Grand Marshal, American Former Baseball Outfielder, Luis Gonzalez, Scottsdale, AZ
Luis Gonzalez is an American Former Baseball Outfielder who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball. He is one of the most popular figures in D-backs history and is in his 14th full season in the front office and ninth as Senior Advisor to the President, CEO and General Partner with the D-backs. Gonzalez rejoined the organization in August 2009 after officially retiring as a player following his 19-year Major League career. He now is a senior advisor to the President and CEO to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and works to prepare young players for the Major Leagues. - President, Banner Plans and Networks, Banner Health, Chuck Lehn, Phoenix, AZ
Chuck Lehn assumed the role of President, Banner Plans and Networks (BPN), in 2017, where he is responsible for developing accountable care solutions for Banner Health and its affiliated physicians. He also now I’m hungry has executive oversight for Banner Network Colorado and University of Arizona Health Plans. In his three decades at Banner, Lehn has served in such areas as strategic growth, corporate finance, rural health care administration, provider network development, managed care, and health plan leadership. Compliance experience as a provider with Banner Health, Network Compliance Experience with Banner Plans & Networks (BPN), Banner Network Colorado, Banner Plan Administration. Plan Compliance experience with United, Cigna, Humana, BCBS, Banner University Health Plans, and Banner Medicare Advantage. Lehn has a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and a master’s in health care administration from the University of Minnesota.
The “Honor Our Heroes” program received nearly 50 community submissions to vie for the title of Veterans Grand Marshal in this year’s parade with the theme Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans, Sacrifice Remembered.
Now in its 28th year, the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade occurs at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 11. The parade heads south on Central and Montebello, crosses east on Camelback, and heads south on 7th Street, where it destages at Indian School Road.