![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.14375in"
height="2.172222222222222in"}**PVAHCS VA Veterans Day Parade News
Release**

**For Further Information Contact:**

**Paula L. Pedene APR, VA Public Affairs Officer**

**(602) 200-6279 phone**

**(602) 779-3534 pager**

**(480) 368-8714 after hours**

**Paula.pedene@va.gov**

**For Immediate Release November 7, 2008**

**Phoenix VA Set to Launch One of Nation's Largest Veterans Day Parades\
Several Activities Planned to Honor Veterans in the Next Few Days,\
Culminating in Parade Recognized by National Veterans Day Committee**

MEDIA NOTE: Several opportunities for visual stories and interviews are
included here

PHOENIX - The Phoenix VA Health Care System has created an impressive
array of community groups, veterans organizations, businesses and others
through the annual VA Veterans Day Parade on November 11 at 11 a.m. to
honor the men and women who have served in our nation\'s military.

With a theme of \"Serving With Honor,\" the 2008 VA Veterans Day Parade
will pay tribute to all veterans from World War I to the present, with a
special salute to veterans serving in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring
Freedom OEF) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF). Four recent OEF-OIF
veterans are serving as Grand Marshals.

Activities in the next few days leading up to parade time include:

**Honeywell Hometown Solutions Partners with VA on Redo of Veterans
Canteen Patio\
Saturday, November 8 at 8 a.m.**

**What:** Honeywell Hometown Solutions and Rebuilding Together partner
with VA to redo Veterans Canteen Service Patio at Carl T. Hayden VA
Medical Center\
**Time:** November 8 at 8 a.m.

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\- Page 2\
Phoenix VA Set to Launch One of Nation's Largest Veterans Day Parades

**Where:** North side patio off the VCS cafeteria\
**Why:** As part of their VA Veterans Day Parade Sponsorship, Honeywell
has partnered with VA to enhance the VCS patio used by both patients and
staff. Honeywell is donating hundreds of plants, resurfacing 13 patio
tables, banners and labor along with other touch ups to make the area
more appealing for those who use it as a place of dining, comfort and
leisure.

**Celebrity Grand Marshal Presents Quilts and Visits with Hospitalize
Veterans, Nov. 10**

**What:** Celebrity Grand Marshal Connie Stevens will Present Handmade
Quilts to veterans and Visit with Patients of the VA Medical Center\
**Time:** Noon\
**Where:** Ambulatory Care Clinic Basement Conference Rooms, Carl T.
Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 650 E. Indian School Road,
Phoenix. Enter at NE Corner of Third Street and Indian School Road and
travel down to the basement.\
**Why:** Connie Stevens - singer, actress, director, editor and
producer - is also a hugely successful entrepreneur and a humanitarian
who has worked on behalf of the disabled, Native American youth and
veterans. She has visited troops around the world, from Vietnam to the
Persian Gulf, as well as numerous hospitals and military venues, and
donates proceeds from a documentary she produced and directed to
veterans\' charities. She received the \"Decoration for Distinguished
Civilian Service\" from the United States Armed Forces, which is the
highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian.

Calling veterans \"my favorite Americans,\" Stevens also has been a
friend of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, and loves visiting patients
at the hospital. On a previous visit, she spent several hours with the
veterans, and donned hospital garb so she could interact with patients
in intensive care.

**Purple Heart War Dog and Family Visit with Hospitalized Veterans
November 10**

**What:** Lex, Honored Military Working Dog, and the Lee Family, who
Adopted him after their Son was Killed in Iraq Visit with Patients\
**When:** 3 p.m.\
Where: Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 650 E. Indian
School Road, Phoenix. Enter at Nursing Home Care Unit.

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\- Page 3\
Phoenix VA Set to Launch One of Nation's Largest Veterans Day Parades

**Why:** Marine Corporal Dustin Lee was mortally wounded in a mortar
attack in Fallujah, Iraq, in March 2007. Even though he was also
wounded, Lee\'s partner Lex, a Military Working Dog, stayed at his side.
Medics had to drag the 7-year-old German Shepherd Dog away so they could
attend to Cpl. Lee, who died a short time later.

Lex, who received a Commemorative Purple Heart, is serving as an
Honorary Grand Marshal of the parade. Now retired and adopted by Lee\'s
family, Lex will walk in the parade with Dustin\'s parents, Jerome and
Rachel, of Quitman, Miss., and will be followed by a group of German
Shepherd Dogs and others in a \"Salute to the Military Working Dog\".

**Memorial Tribute to Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Silvestre
Herrera\
10:45 a.m. East Side Parade Grandstands, November 11**

**What:** Memorial Tribute to Sylvestre Herrera, Arizona\'s first World
War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient\
When: 10:40 a.m.\
**Where:** Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 650 E. Indian
School Road, Phoenix; east side of the parade grandstands (west side on
Indian School Road, north of Montecito.\
**Why:** The loss of both feet to land mines didn\'t stop Private First
Class (PFC) Silvestre S. Herrera from accomplishing his mission in
France during World War II, when his platoon was pinned down by heavy
enemy machine-gun fire. Despite intense pain and unchecked loss of
blood, he advanced on his knees and held down the enemy with accurate
rifle fire while a friendly squad skirted the minefield and captured the
enemy gun. The magnificent courage, extraordinary heroism, and willing
self-sacrifice displayed by PFC Herrera resulted in the capture of two
enemy strong points. His valiant efforts earned him the Congressional
Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy
force that can be bestowed on an individual serving in the United States
Armed Services.

Herrera was a life-long resident of Arizona and passed way shortly after
Veterans Day last year.\
The tribute will include a special performance by Folklorico Lindo y
Quierdo Dancers; remarks by Connie Stevens and Medical Center Director
Donald Moore, RPh, MBA, and a song performed by Angela Gonzales.

**\
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Phoenix VA Set to Launch One of Nation's Largest Veterans Day Parades

**VA Veterans Day Parade Kick Off November 11 at 11 a.m. with Longbow
Flyover**

**What:** Apache Helicopter Flyover\
**When:** 11:00 a.m.\
**Where:** Seventh Street and Indian School Road, Phoenix\
**Why:** Two Apache AH-64D \"Longbow\" helicopters from the Arizona Army
National Guard will kickoff the 2008 VA Veterans Day parade by flying
over the parade route, which begins on Seventh Street, just north of
Indian School Road. The helicopters are from the First Battalion, 285th
Aviation Regiment at the Silver Bell Army Heliport in Marana. From
January 2007 to January 2008, about 400 soldiers and 24 helicopters were
deployed to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, engaging the
enemy and supporting troops on the ground.\
\
**The Phoenix VA Health Care System\'s Annual VA Veterans Day Parade
will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 11, starting at 11 a.m.** It will feature
approximately 100 patriotic entries, including historic military
vehicles; Veterans Service Organizations such as the Disabled American
Veterans, American Legion and others; marching units, color guards;
canine and equestrian units; floats; giant helium balloons, and bands.\
\
This is the 12th year that the Phoenix VA Health Care System has
coordinated the VA Veterans Day Parade, which is supported by the City
of Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department and the Veterans
Medical Leadership Council. US Airways is a presenting sponsor of the
event.

The national committee that oversees planning and coordination of the
observance of Veterans Day selected the Phoenix VA Health Care System\'s
VA Veterans Day Parade as a Regional Site for celebrating the holiday.
Under Honorary Chairman, Pres. George W. Bush, and Chairman, Hon. James
B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, cite such regional events as
those that \"serve as model of events to honor America\'s veterans.\"

-VA-

.