SE Valley Times

The annual East Valley Veterans Parade, presented by Google Fiber, will take place on November 11 at 11 a.m. in downtown Mesa. The parade, featuring over 100 entries, will start at the intersection of Center Street and University Drive. It will proceed south on Center Street, turn west on First Street, and conclude at Robson.

This year's theme is "Arizona Heroes in the Global War on Terrorism," recognizing those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq along with their families. Retired Army Sergeant Dan Piotrowski, a veteran of 22 years who survived explosions during his service in both countries, has been named the grand marshal for this year’s parade.

A brief program honoring veterans will precede the parade at 10:30 a.m., including remarks from Mesa Mayor John Giles.

Several streets will be closed to accommodate the event. Starting at 6 a.m., streets intersecting Center north of University Drive will close for staging. The parade route itself will close at 8 a.m., affecting various streets including Center Street from University Drive to Pepper Place and others along the route.

University Drive is expected to reopen around 12:30 p.m., with all roads cleared by 2 p.m. Detours are available via Main Street, Mesa Drive, Country Club Drive, and Brown Road.

City offices in Mesa will be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day. Trash collection remains as scheduled; residents should ensure containers are out by 6 a.m. Various city facilities have adjusted hours or closures for the day.

Public transportation services like local bus and light rail routes maintain regular schedules; however, Express and RAPID commuter buses won't operate that day. Certain routes face detours until early afternoon due to street closures.

To honor service members, the Arizona Museum of Natural History offers free admission to veterans and active military personnel on November 11. The Commemorative Air Force Museum's observance occurs earlier on November 9 due to its Monday closure.

Other events include the Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial Service held annually at Mesa Cemetery to honor British cadets and an American pilot lost during World War II training operations.