The East Valley Veterans Parade returns to downtown Mesa on Veterans Day, Saturday Nov. 11. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Center Street and University Drive and will travel south on Center Street and turn west on First Street. The parade will continue on First Street to Robson where it will end.
This year's parade has the theme "Honor and Remember" and will include approximately 100 parade entries. This year's grand marshal is retired Army Major General David Rataczak, former Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard.
Prior to the parade, at 10:30 a.m., a brief program will recognize Veterans for their service to our country. It will include remarks from U.S. Representative Andy Biggs, Mesa Mayor John Giles and Major General David Rataczak.
The following streets are scheduled to be closed for the parade:
7 a.m. (parade staging)
Center Street - 9th Place to University Drive (no northbound traffic)
Center Street - at Brown Road (local traffic only southbound from Brown)
Center Street - at 9th Place (reduced to one southbound lane to University Drive)
8th Street - Center to Mesa Drive (local traffic only; Mesa Drive to Fitch Park driveway)
6th Place - Center to Fitch Field parking lot
8 a.m.
Center Street - University Drive to Pepper Place
3rd Place - Center Street to Drew
MLK Way - Center Street to Centennial Way
2nd Street - at Center Street
2nd Street - Robson to Country Club Drive
1st Street - Centennial Way to Country Club Drive
Macdonald - Pepper Place to 2nd Street
Robson - Pepper Place to 2nd Street
Morris - 1st Street to 2nd Street
10:30 a.m.
University Drive - Mesa Drive to Country Club Drive
All streets should reopen by 2 p.m. Traffic can detour around the parade route by using Main Street, Mesa Drive, Country Club Drive and Brown Road.
In addition to the parade, the City of Mesa proudly presents the 3rd Annual House Homeless Veterans Benefit Concert. The concert will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center Alliance Pavilion Stage, 1 E. Main St. All donations from the concert will benefit the Housing Mesa's Heroes program to help our Veterans find stable housing and the necessary support services they need.
The City of Mesa will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. Trash and recycle barrels will be on the normal collection schedule. Residents should have their containers out no later than 6 a.m. All bus and light rail routes will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule.
All branches of Mesa Public Library will be closed Nov. 11. Webster and Jefferson recreation centers will be closed Nov. 10 and 11. The Red Mountain Recreation and Fitness Center will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11 with no group fitness classes either day. The Red Mountain Active Adult Center will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 and closed Nov. 11. Oakwood Creative Care will be open 7 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and closed Nov. 11. The Dobson Ranch Golf Course will be open and the Kino Aquatic Center and Skyline Aquatic Center will be open for adult lap swimming.
The Mesa Arts Center is open with several events taking place including the benefit concert. While the box office will be open, the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, The Store and administrative offices will be closed. The Arizona Museum of Natural History andi.d.e.a. Museumwill also be closed.
Another Veterans Day observance in Mesa is the Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial Service Sunday, Nov. 12 at 10:45 a.m. at the Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St. The service, presented by the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona, honors the 23 British cadets and one American pilot killed in air accidents during Falcon Field's four years as a training facility for U.S. and British fighter pilots during World War II. Those individuals are buried in a special section of the Mesa Cemetery.
Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov