The city of Scottsdale has opened nominations for its annual Scottsdale Salutes program, which honors veterans, active-duty military personnel, and members of the National Guard and reserves who have ties to the local community. Selected honorees will have banners displayed on light poles in Old Town for two weeks in November. They will also be recognized at a special reception during Veterans Day events.
To qualify, nominees must either currently live in Scottsdale, have previously lived there, or maintain a strong connection to the area, such as having worked in the city for at least five years. Nominations are open until Friday, Sept. 26, and can be submitted through the city’s website by searching “Scottsdale Salutes.”
In addition to their banners in Old Town, honorees will 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 Veterans Advisory Commission oversees this program along with others aimed at supporting local veterans. The commission is made up of seven residents appointed by City Council to advise on veteran-related programs and policies.
Among these initiatives is Veterans AZ, a video and podcast series produced by the city that shares news and personal stories related to military service. The series is available to other local governments and is broadcast on municipal channels across Arizona.
Scottsdale has received recognition for its efforts supporting veterans. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the city its “Top Performer” designation from the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration due to activities such as its annual Vietnam veterans recognition event.
In May, Kelly Corsette, Communications & Public Affairs Director for Scottsdale and staff liaison to the Veterans Advisory Commission, was honored with the Copper Star Award by Unified Arizona Veterans and the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society for his leadership in programs including Veterans AZ, Scottsdale Salutes, and Vietnam Veterans Day.
The city features several public sites dedicated to honoring veterans. In 2024 it introduced the Scottsdale Veterans Trail online story map highlighting over a dozen locations such as:
– The Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen at City Hall
– McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, which houses Arizona’s “Merci Car,” given by France after World War II
– Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial at Scottsdale Airport
Upcoming events include a presentation marking National POW/MIA Day on Sept. 19 hosted with community historian Joan Fudala and Air Force veteran status. The annual Veterans Day Commemoration is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Tuesday Nov. 11 at Civic Center Memorial Lawn.
Further details about these events will be announced soon.
