The annual East Valley Veterans Parade will honor our nation's veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in downtown Mesa. With more than 90 entries, the parade begins at the Center Street and University Drive intersection. It 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. More information about the parade is available at evvp.org.
This year's East Valley Veterans Parade has the theme "Vietnam Valor," to remember their courage, thank the veterans for their service and sacrifices during the war and emphasize the valor they've shown during the 50 years since the war's end.
This year's grand marshal is Retired Marine Corps First Sergeant John Lord who received many awards and citations for his 20 years of service including the Navy Cross, the U.S. Navy's second highest military decoration for extraordinary heroism. Lord helped get numerous Marines to safety during an ambush by the Vietcong in 1968.
Prior to the parade, at 10:30 a.m., a brief program will recognize Veterans for their service to our country and will include a pinning ceremony. The program will include remarks from Mesa Mayor John Giles.
The following streets will close for the parade:
6 a.m. (parade staging)
Center Street - all streets that intersect Center north of University Drive will be closed on both sides of Center (5th St., 6th St., 6th Place, 7th St., 8th Place and 9th Place)
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)
Athletics Way (6th Place) - Center to Fitch Field parking lot
8 a.m. (the parade route will be closed)
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
10:45 a.m.
University Drive - Mesa Drive to Country Club Drive
All streets adjacent to Center Street north of University to Brown Road will not be able to access Center Street at 6 a.m. All streets adjacent to Center Street south of University will be unable to access Center Street at 8 a.m.
University Drive will reopen to traffic at Center Street at approximately 12:30 p.m. 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.
To celebrate and honor service members, the Arizona Museum of Natural History and i.d.e.a. Museum are offering free admission on Nov. 11 for veterans and active military, plus three additional guests (up to four guests per party). The Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field Airport is offering free admission to anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces. A Bells of Peace Observance will take place at the museum at 11 a.m.
The City of Mesa offices will be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Trash and recycle barrels will be on the regular collection schedule. Residents should have their containers out by 6 a.m.
All branches of Mesa Public Library will be closed Nov. 11. Red Mountain Center will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 with no classes offered. Webster, Jefferson, Broadway and Eagles recreation centers will be closed both days. The Kino Aquatic Center and Skyline Aquatic Center will be closed for adult lap swimming on Nov. 11. Dobson Ranch Golf Course and Oakwood Creative Care will be open.
The Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum will be closed but the box office is open on Nov. 11.
Local bus and light rail routes will operate on their regular weekday schedules on Friday, Nov. 10. However, Express and RAPID commuter bus services will not operate that day. On Saturday, Nov. 11, route 30 - University Drive Eastbound and Westbound, Route 112 - Country Club Northbound to Centennial/Main, Route 120 - Mesa Drive Northbound and Southbound, and the Downtown BUZZ will be detoured from start-of-service until 2 p.m. Visit https://www.valleymetro.org/rider-alerts for details.
Other Veterans Day observances in Mesa include the Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial Service on 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 rest in a special section of the Mesa Cemetery. This observance has been held in Mesa annually for more than 30 years.