Raising Arizona Kids Magazine

Celebrate our veterans who defended our country. Here’s a roundup of parades, performances and fun runs to commemorate Veterans Day (Monday, Nov. 11, 2019).

Saturday, Nov. 9

ASU Veterans Day Pow Wow. ASU hosts the annual Native American Heritage Festival, featuring the Veterans Day Weekend Traditional Pow Wow. Celebrate with dancers, drum groups, food and vendors. The ASU Teachers of the Future student club will host kids activities.

Sunday, Nov. 10

TMC Veterans Day Half Marathon & 5K. Everyone is welcome at the Tucson Medical Center Veterans Day Half Marathon and 5K at Old Tucson, which winds through the hills of Tucson Mountain Park. There is also a 5K stroller division. All proceeds benefit local community groups and veterans assistance organizations.

Monday, Nov. 11

Veterans Day Ceremony & Fun Run. Honor veterans and their families with a 5K fitness run/walk followed by breakfast at Estrella Mountain Community College’s Avondale campus. Bootcamp stations include timed sit-ups and push-ups, ammo can lift and tire flipping. Stick around for the kids zone, giveaways, entertainment and Veterans Day ceremony. City of Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. The City of Phoenix honors America’s heroes at the annual Veterans Day Parade that begins at Montebello Drive, heads south on Central Avenue, east on Camelback Road and south on Seventh Street and ends at Indian School Road. East Valley Veterans Parade. In partnership with the Honor and Remember Organization, this downtown Mesa parade honors local veterans, active military and their families with marching bands, military vehicles and flyovers by historical military aircraft. Veterans Day at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park hosts the city of Scottsdale’s annual Veterans Day celebration with Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane, the Scottsdale City Council and scheduled keynote speaker Sen. Martha McSally, a United States Air Force combat veteran and Arizona’s junior United States Senator. Army veteran JB Spisso, who served 26 years, including 10 years in Special Operations with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, will also speak at the event. Veterans Day Gourd Dance. Pueblo Grande Museum and the Arizona Territory Gourd Society invite families to this 20th annual event to enjoy Native American ceremonial dance, art, and culture. Free Entrance at National Parks. On Veterans Day, the National Park Service sites offer free admission to anyone visiting one of over 400 parks throughout the country. In Arizona, that includes Casa Grande Ruins, Glen Canyon, Grand Canyon, Montezuma’s Castle and more. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in celebration of Veterans Day. Veterans and active military get $2 off admission per person for everyone in the group with military ID.

Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum

The Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa honors all veterans past and present. Exhibits cover 100 years of military aviation, and the museum features historic aircraft and living history flights. Docent Bill Querhn will give an educational presentation at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day (included with regular admission). Also includes a ceremony with partner organizations. Active duty military are admitted free.

“Got 10 minutes for a vet?”

Do you ever wish you could do something to honor those who serve? Volunteer for Vets Community Connections, a nonprofit that helps military families reintegrate into their communities. Veterans are matched with individual volunteers who can answer questions about settling into a new community — like how to find a local sports league or a pediatrician. Most volunteers spend just 10 minutes or so on the phone with a vet or his/her spouse. It’s a personal and concrete way to help military families. RELATED:

• Children’s books that explore service and patriotism
• Family events Around Arizona
• Onstage events for family audiences
• Fun runs and walks
• All of today’s events