Quad Cities Business News

Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, & Dewey/Humboldt

You are here: Home / Archives for Veterans Day

Veterans Day

November is a Time to Honor and Celebrate as We Usher in the Holidays

By Leave a Comment

Please join me in these months of honor and celebration in our great City of Prescott.

One of the things I appreciate about Prescott is that our community truly enjoys celebrations and honoring those who serve. November is a time to do just that, as we celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, and then we usher in one of the most significant seasons with the events of Arizona’s Christmas City.

Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day following the end of World War I, and then in the United States, it became a celebration honoring all of our military veterans. While Memorial Day is more of a remembrance of the veterans who sacrificed their lives for our great nation, I view Veterans Day as a celebration, giving us a chance to thank all veterans for their service to our country. We do so in grand style here in Prescott, with the annual Veterans Day Parade beginning at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, through the streets of historic downtown Prescott. I am proud of Prescott for hosting this important event. I believe that the Veterans Day Parade embodies the genuine appreciation our citizens show to veterans. Many thanks to Michelle Stacy-Schroeder, also a veteran, and her team of volunteers and city staff, who help make the parade a truly special event.

A few years back, Prescott was named one of the Most Patriotic Cities in the United States and is recognized as having one of the highest concentrations of veterans per capita, in any community, other than towns that host military bases. The Northern Arizona Veterans Administration Healthcare System works alongside numerous non-profits serving veterans, drawing these large numbers here. Prescott is truly one of the most veteran-friendly communities anywhere. Citizens genuinely support all veterans. As a Vietnam veteran who served in combat, I know how meaningful genuine expressions of appreciation are, since we did not receive a friendly reception when we returned from service many years ago.

Veterans Day is soon followed by another celebration with Thanksgiving, this year on Nov. 23.    This is an exciting time for me, since just a few days later, we begin the official Arizona’s Christmas City events. The festivities start with the Holiday Light Parade, 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 25, in the downtown area. One week later, on Saturday Dec. 2, we celebrate with the annual Christmas Parade, then the magical lighting of the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza. Of course, there are other great Christmas City events, including Acker Night and many others. To see the full calendar of Arizona’s Christmas City events, check out ArizonaChristmasCity.com.

Please join me in these months of honor and celebration in our great City of Prescott. QCBN

By Phil Goode

Phil Goode is the mayor of Prescott.

Honoring Our Heroes

By Leave a Comment

The City of Prescott Veterans Day Parade will take place on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m.

November is an important month, as we honor our many veterans. As a U.S. Army Vietnam War Combat Infantry Veteran, I understand the importance of honoring those who have served and currently serve in our Armed Forces. Their duty and sacrifice should be remembered every day.

Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, reflects the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, ending World War I – the War to End All Wars. If only that were so. My father and his two brothers served in World War II, in the Pacific Theater. When my time came, I proudly served in the Army in Vietnam. Last year, I marked the 50th anniversary of the day I came home from Vietnam. It was a day I will never forget, in part because of the way I was treated by anti-war protesters when I returned. Since that time, it has been my sincere goal, and that of my fellow Vietnam veterans, to make sure that all returning veterans are treated with the respect they deserve.

Since 2015, the City of Prescott has held a Veterans Day Parade, always on Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. This year, we recognize Vietnam veterans, those who served, and the 58,479 who never made it home.

I am proud of Prescott for hosting this important event. A few years ago, Prescott was named one of the Most Patriotic Cities in the United States. In part, I believe, because of this parade, the genuine appreciation our citizens show to veterans, and all of the services our community provides to our veterans. As I am sure you know, Prescott has one of the highest percentages of veterans, per capita, of any city in the United States. We are proud of this fact and proud to honor our veterans.

Thank you to city staff member and veteran, Michelle Stacy-Schroeder and her dedicated committee members, as well as the sponsors, for hosting the parade every year. I hope that you will take time to attend the parade and honor the veterans in your life every day. Their service and sacrifice for our country can never be adequately repaid.

The City of Prescott Veterans Day Parade will take place on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. The parade starts on Cortez and Willis, and goes south, around the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza. If you cannot attend in person, you can watch it live on the City of Prescott Facebook page. This year, I am pleased to announce that Arizona Family TV 7 will also cover the parade for thousands of viewers around the state. Thank you. QCBN

By Phil Goode

Phil Goode is the mayor of Prescott.

Veterans Day Honors All Who Served

By Leave a Comment

Health First Foundation Northern Arizona gives special attention to improving the health and well-being of veterans in Northern Arizona.

Veterans Day is approaching, and I have a singular mission in mind. I will be sure to wish my father a Happy Veterans Day and thank him for serving our country.

Dad served in the Air Force as a young man, prior to his marriage and raising four children. The U.S. was not at war at the time, and his work as a nuclear weapons systems specialist was always a footnote to his life as a husband, father, softball coach and computer software engineer. Although we rarely discussed his military service, I know it was important and meaningful to him.

Veterans Day honors all Americans who served in the Armed Forces, those who saw combat and those who did not. It’s a day to celebrate veterans and their contributions to our country.

The observance dates to 1918 when a ceasefire, or armistice, took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month to end World War I. Proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson, Nov. 11 was first known as Armistice Day and was marked by people gathering at 11 a.m. for special ceremonies.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower later renamed the holiday Veterans Day, a national celebration honoring all American veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Veterans Day is especially noteworthy this year. It marks the centennial of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The national memorial stands to remind Americans of the courage, sacrifice and grief that surrounds the fight to preserve our nation and its values.

There are many ways to observe Veterans Day. Here are a few ideas:

  • Ask a veteran about their service and listen attentively.
  • Write a letter of thanks to a veteran.
  • Appropriately display the U.S. flag.
  • Take part in a local Veterans Day parade or celebration.
  • Donate to a non-profit organization that supports veterans.
  • Personally deliver thanks and good wishes to veterans in your family, workplace, and community.

Health First Foundation Northern Arizona gives special attention to improving the health and well-being of veterans in Northern Arizona. The foundation invests in programs that directly aid veterans. Anyone can help by donating to the foundation’s Healthy Heroes campaign while paying tribute to a veteran or active service member. Visit healthfirstforall.org to learn more.

Although the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides veteran benefits and care, the system is complex and often challenging to navigate. Non-profits often step in to help veterans access and manage the care they have earned and lend them additional support.

More than 65,000 military veterans live in Northern Arizona. In Yavapai and Mohave counties, veterans make up about 10% of the population. Many need help obtaining health and mental health care, job placement and housing. The top veteran health concerns are sleep problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and back, neck and shoulder issues.

Military service is demanding and can take its toll on physical, mental and emotional wellness. Combat situations are especially rigorous and dangerous. More than two million American men and women served in the post-9/11 war on terrorism, waged primarily in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Many of them sustained physical or psychological injuries from the conflicts. Most concerning is the suicide rate among U.S. veterans, which is more than 1.5 times that of non-veteran adults.

These concerns tell us that much more can be done for our veterans. In what ways will you help this Veterans Day? QCBN

By Nancy Wiechec

Nancy is a former journalist and the Strategic Relations and Communications Manager for Health First Foundation Northern Arizona, an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit charity dedicated to advancing health and well-being.