The city of Scottsdale has opened nominations for its annual Scottsdale Salutes program, which recognizes veterans, active-duty military personnel, and members of the National Guard and reserves with connections to the community.
Selected honorees will have banners displayed on light poles in Old Town Scottsdale for two weeks in November. They will also be recognized at a special reception during Veterans Day events. Nominees must either currently live in Scottsdale, have lived there previously, or demonstrate a strong local connection such as working in the city for at least five years. Nominations are open until Friday, September 26, and can be submitted through the city’s website by searching “Scottsdale Salutes.”
Honorees will not only see their banners displayed but will also be guests of honor at a November reception and invited to participate in the annual Parada del Sol Historic Parade.
“Scottsdale Salutes allows us to say, ‘thank you’ in a meaningful way to the veterans and military members who are part of our community,” said Justin Layman, chair of the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission. “Each honoree reminds us that our freedoms are secured by courage and sacrifice — we are honored to share their stories with the community.”
The Scottsdale Salutes program is one of several initiatives led by the city’s Veterans Advisory Commission. The commission consists of seven residents appointed by the City Council who advise on veteran programs and serve as a connection point for veterans and the military community.
Another initiative is Veterans AZ, a video and podcast series produced by the city that shares news, resources, and personal stories related to military service. This series is offered to other local governments and broadcast on municipal channels throughout Arizona.
Scottsdale’s efforts have been recognized nationally. The city received the U.S. Department of Defense’s “Top Performer” designation from the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration for its Vietnam veteran recognition event and related activities.
In May, Kelly Corsette, Communications & Public Affairs Director for Scottsdale and staff liaison to the Veterans Advisory Commission, was awarded the Copper Star Award by Unified Arizona Veterans and the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society for his leadership in veteran initiatives including Veterans AZ, Scottsdale Salutes, and Vietnam Veterans Day.
Scottsdale has several public places dedicated to honoring veterans. In 2024, it launched an online story map called the Scottsdale Veterans Trail that highlights more than a dozen locations of significance. These include:
– The Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen at City Hall
– McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park featuring Arizona’s “Merci Car,” gifted by France after World War II
– Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial at Scottsdale Airport
Upcoming events include a presentation recognizing National POW/MIA Day on September 19 in partnership with historian Joan Fudala and Scottsdale’s annual Veterans Day Commemoration scheduled for November 11 at Civic Center Memorial Lawn. Further details about these events will be announced soon.
