SE Valley Times

The City of Tempe, AZ, is gearing up to celebrate young individuals who have chosen to serve their country in the armed forces at the upcoming 10th Annual Tempe Community Salutes event.

Councilmember and Tempe Union High School District Governing Board Member, Berdetta Hodge, expressed her pride and excitement for the event, stating, "As both a Councilmember and a school board member, I have watched this group of students excel as they have matured into young adults, ready to serve our great nation. I’m excited to congratulate and honor them at Tempe Community Salutes."

The event, scheduled for Monday, May 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Tempe Center for the Arts, will feature speakers such as Councilmember Hodge, Tempe Union High School District Assistant Superintendent Sean McDonald, and a video greeting from U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. The TUHSD JROTC will also be presenting the colors.

Adding to the evening's ambiance, the East Valley Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus will be performing, while light refreshments will be served for attendees. The event is free and open to the public, with sponsors including Amazon, WM, Sender, Sundt Construction, and Gammage & Burnham.

Since its inception in 2015, the Tempe Community Salutes event has seen hundreds of military-bound individuals from Tempe participate in the ceremony, an initiative that was launched by veteran and former Councilmember Robin Arredondo-Savage.

For more information about the upcoming Tempe Community Salutes event, interested individuals can visit tempe.gov/Community Salutes.

For media inquiries, please contact Savannah Harrelson at savannah_harrelson@tempe.gov or 480-435-5999.