East Valley Veterans Parade: More than 100 entries honor American heroes
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The annual East Valley Veterans Parade Presented by Google Fiber will honor our nation’s veterans on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in downtown Mesa.
With more than 100 entries, the parade begins at the Center Street and University Drive intersection. It will travel south on Center Street and turn west on First Street. The parade will continue on First Street to Robson, where it will end.
More information about the parade is available at evvp.org.
This year’s theme is Arizona Heroes in the Global War on Terrorism to recognize those who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their families.
The 2024 East Valley Veterans Parade grand marshal is Retired Army Sergeant Dan Piotrowski, a 22-year veteran who survived explosions while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite suffering a concussion in a truck bomb explosion at a combat outpost in Afghanistan, he worked alongside his communications specialist to restore critical radio and internet services within an hour. It was an act that saved lives.
Prior to the parade, at 10:30 a.m., a brief program will recognize Veterans for their service to our country. The program will include remarks from Mesa Mayor John Giles.
The following streets will close for the parade:
- 6 a.m. (parade staging)
- Center Street all streets that intersect Center north of University Drive will be closed on both sides of Center (5th St., 6th St., 6th Place, 7th St., 8th Place and 9th Place)
- Center Street 9th Place to University Drive (no northbound traffic)
- Center Street at Brown Road (local traffic only southbound from Brown)
- Center Street at 9th Place (reduced to one southbound lane to University Drive)
- 8th Street Center to Mesa Drive (local traffic only; Mesa Drive to Fitch Park driveway)
- Athletics Way (6th Place) Center to Fitch Field parking lot
- 8 a.m. (the parade route will be closed)
- Center Street University Drive to Pepper Place
- 3rd Place Center Street to Drew
- MLK Way Center Street to Centennial Way
- 2nd Street at Center Street
- 2nd Street Robson to Country Club Drive
- 1st Street Centennial Way to Country Club Drive
- Macdonald Pepper Place to 2nd Street
- Robson Pepper Place to 2nd Street
- 1st Street to 2nd Street
All streets adjacent to Center Street north of University to Brown Road will not be able to access Center Street at 6 a.m. All streets adjacent to Center Street south of University will be unable to access Center Street at 8 a.m.
University Drive will reopen to traffic at Center Street at approximately 12:30 p.m. All streets should reopen by 2 p.m. Traffic can detour around the parade route using Main Street, Mesa Drive, Country Club Drive and Brown Road.
City offices will be closed; trash pickup remains on regular collection schedule
Mesa offices will be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Trash and recycle barrels will be on the regular collection schedule. Residents should have their containers out by 6 a.m.
Mesa Arts Center and all branches of Mesa Public Library will be closed Nov. 11. Red Mountain Center will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 with no classes offered. Only drop-in basketball, Kids club, and the upstairs fitness center will be available. Webster, Jefferson, Broadway and Eagles recreation centers will be closed both days. The Kino Aquatic Center and Skyline Aquatic Center will be closed for adult lap swimming on Nov. 11. Dobson Ranch Golf Course and Oakwood Creative Care will be open.
Local bus and light rail routes will operate on their regular weekday schedule. However, Express and RAPID commuter bus services will not operate that day.
Route 30 University Drive Eastbound and Westbound, Route 112 Country Club Northbound to Centennial/Main, Route 120 Mesa Drive Northbound and Southbound, and the Downtown BUZZ will be detoured from start-of-service until 2 p.m. Please download the Valley Metro app to stay up to date with detours, pay your fare, plan your trip and see real-time arrival data. Or, visit https://www.valleymetro.org/rider-alerts for details.
Museums offer free admission
To celebrate and honor service members, the Arizona Museum of Natural History is offering free admission on Nov. 11 for veterans and active military. The Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field Airport is closed on Mondays so its Veterans Day observance will be on Saturday, Nov. 9. It is offering free admission that day to anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces. A Bells of Peace Observance will take place at the museum at 11 a.m. along with the playing of Taps and the Armed Forces Medley.
Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial Service to be held on Nov. 10 at Mesa Cemetery
Other Veterans Day observances in Mesa include the Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial Service on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St. The service, presented by the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona, honors the 23 British cadets and one American pilot killed in air accidents during Falcon Fields four years as a training facility for U.S. and British fighter pilots during World War II. Those individuals rest in a special section of the Mesa Cemetery. This observance has been held in Mesa annually for more than 30 years.
