Scottsdale’s Veterans Day Commemoration will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road. It is free and open to the public.
This year’s keynote speaker, Rose Mattie, was deployed to Iraq from 2003-2005, then again from 2009-10, with several roles in between. In 2011, the army selected Mattie to be part of an elite female program where she was deployed with the Green Berets to an Afghan village supporting the Navy SEALs.
After completing that assignment, she was accepted into pilot training. She received her wings in 2013 and flew helicopters for the Arizona National Guard until 2018. During that time, she earned a business degree and became the first recorded servicewoman to attend the military’s Aviation Life Support and Equipment course while seven months pregnant with her second child. Today, Mattie and her family live in Chandler, where she spends her days as a full-time mom.
Scottsdale’s annual Veterans Day commemoration is emceed by Mayor David D. Ortega and also includes remarks from Joan Fudala, Air Force veteran and community historian.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Arizona Band kicks off the program at 3 p.m. with a half-hour of patriotic music.
Scottsdale is proud to be a Vietnam Commemorative Partner. Vietnam veterans and family members are invited to not only attend this year’s event, but also use it as an opportunity to share their stories with attendees. Stickers encouraging others to ask veterans about their stories will be available.
The program also will feature the Scottsdale Police and Fire Honor Guards, bugler Gil Gifford and members of Scottsdale Mayor’s Youth Council.
For more information about this event, call the park at 480-312-2312.
More local Veterans Day commemorations and information:
Scottsdale Salutes: new program honors local veterans. Banners featuring 30 local veterans/servicemembers will fly from street light poles in Old Town during two weeks in November. See the banners on along Drinkwater Boulevard Nov. 3 - 21. This recognition program was initiated by the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission, seven residents appointed by the City Council to advise on veterans’ issues and to raise awareness of and honor veterans in the community.
Most city offices closed for Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11. However, garbage and recycling collection will not be affected. Residents may place containers in the typical spot by 5 a.m. the morning of collection or the night before.
Civic Center Library hosts Top Gun Larry Ernst. Ernst flew more than 100 combat missions from the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. During more than 25 years of military service, he accumulated more than 4,500 hours of flying time in 36 different aircraft and served as both a test pilot and as a fighter pilot instructor at the Navy’s famed TOP GUN program. 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Learn more: ScottsdaleLibrary.org, search “events”
Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen scheduled for dedication in January. A new memorial honoring more than 60 fallen service members from Scottsdale will soon be unveiled outside City Hall. This seven-sided granite memorial will serve as a permanent place of remembrance of those who have made the greatest sacrifice in serving our nation. More information on the dedication will be shared in a future news release.
Veterans AZ honors those who serve throughout the year. The City of Scottsdale produces Veterans AZ, a video program and podcast featuring Arizona veterans and the many organizations who support them. See a full list of resources, memorials, partner organizations and more serving veterans in Scottsdale at ScottsdaleAZ.gov/veterans.
Original source can be found here.
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