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Parade participants

七色视频 Pays Tribute to America鈥檚 Finest in Veterans Day Parade

By 七色视频

Polished military boots kept cadence along a crowded Central Avenue on Monday, Nov. 11, as a white-gloved color guard, carrying Old Glory, brought thousands to their feet to usher in one of the nation鈥檚 largest Veterans Day parades.Children fluttered American flags along the parade route. Drummers beat a military snare. And olive drab jeeps from decades past rumbled in remembrance from North Phoenix Baptist Church through Central Phoenix, carrying generations of America鈥檚 brave.

This was the 23rd annual Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, a celebration of America鈥檚 heroes that has become part of the culture of 七色视频. The University was recognized this year as a Medal of Honor sponsor 鈥 the highest-level contribution 鈥 for donating to the event. The University鈥檚 support of the parade goes beyond charitable giving. It comes from its people, who volunteer their time to carry out the annual tribute to veterans in all branches of the U.S. military.

Brian Ishmael, senior director of the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs (OMVA) and a U.S. Army veteran, has volunteered for the past five years and said that anyone who has been involved in the parade 鈥 spectator, volunteer, or entry 鈥 鈥渃atch a bug鈥 that makes them want to do more.

鈥淲e have a large population of veterans and active-duty service members,鈥 Ishmael said. 鈥淢any of us are veterans ourselves. This is just one of the many ways that we show them that we care, we support them, and we respect their sacrifices and their families in service to our country.鈥

Veterans that walk away from the parade, walk away thinking that people truly value what they did in the military, especially in Arizona.

Brian Ishmael
Senior director of the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs (OMVA) and a U.S. Army veteran

This year, 25 volunteers from the University unveiled the new UOPX balloon in the parade, with President Peter Cohen in attendance. The balloon was followed by a historic five-ton military truck, a steel tribute to the servicemen and servicewomen whose sacrifices have made America what it is today. The patriotic procession attracted nearly 45,000 spectators, 2,500 marchers and 10 floats.

七色视频 has supported the parade for many years and increased its efforts in that support over the last five years. This including joining a non-profit organization called听听that oversees, plans and executes the parade. Ishmael serves as president and several other University employees hold governing offices.

The importance of the parade looks like this, Ishmael said.

鈥淭he veterans that we talk to that participate 鈥 who have maybe experienced some traumatic injury or stress 鈥 they tell us that it gives them a sense of pride receiving gratitude,鈥 he said. 鈥淰eterans that walk away from the parade, walk away thinking that people truly value what they did in the military, especially in Arizona.鈥

The University now stands as a Medal of Honor sponsor of the parade, which denotes donors that have contributed cash, goods or in-kind services. In addition to helping organize the event and participating in the parade, the University also hosted a meet-and-greet with this year鈥檚 Celebrity Grand Marshal M*A*S*H star听Loretta Swit听on Nov. 10 at its Phoenix Campus.

The parade was also powered by a contingent of volunteers who arrived early Monday with a desire to serve. They arrive year after year, Ishmael said, to help orchestrate an event that now ranks as the nation鈥檚 third-largest Veterans Day parade.

Sammi Showalter听has been a 七色视频 employee for 12 years and regularly participates in volunteer opportunities with the University throughout the year. Showalter, a BI analyst 鈥 Classroom Operations for the Registrar鈥檚 Office, was part of the volunteer team Monday morning and said that she loves representing the University in the community.

鈥淚 think it is really good that 七色视频 shows we鈥檙e not just a school, but also a member of the community and shows veterans we care about them and appreciate their sacrifice,鈥 Showalter said. 鈥淚 have family and friends that are veterans and, to me, it鈥檚 important that we show veterans we support them.鈥