PRE-CEREMONY ACTIVITIES – ARRIVE EARLY
BREAKFAST. 8:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Tennessee Grill, owned by Ryan Ladiser (USMC veteran), will sell light breakfast food and beverages prior to the start of the ceremony.
SOUND AND SCREEN. 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Enjoy music and videos on the LED screens while supporting our Vietnam War era veterans and enjoying breakfast.
VIETNAM WAR ERA and SURVIVING SPOUSE PINNING 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
In partnership with the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration and Daisy Mountain Veterans, Vietnam War era veterans surviving spouses are invited to be awarded the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Vietnam War pin. Era includes: November 1, 1955 – May 15, 1995.
CHARITABLE EFFORTS. YOUTH FOR TROOPS TENT. 8:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. South Lawn
• HELP DECORATE CARDS/BOXES to send to troops oversea. Family Fun.
• COLLECTION DRIVE: Assist Youth for Troops efforts to provide 800 holiday care packages for troops stationed overseas by donating small new puzzle and sudoku books, card games (UNO, Phase 10), full-size holiday cards, candy canes, lip balm. Help our troops by donating care package items. Youth4Troops.org
• HELP DAISY MOUNTAIN VETERANS (DMV) HOLIDAY HELPERS: This DMV program provides holiday meals, stocking stuffers and presents for local children/families in need. Donate items for all ages this morning. Especially needed are stocking stuffers for teen girls and boys. Be a holiday helper and donate goods at the Veterans Day event. Email: Holidays@daisymtnvets.org for item list.
CEREMONY HIGHLGHTS. 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. North/South Lawns
“HONOR. SALUTE. SUPPORT"
The annual Veterans Day ceremony honors all veterans, active-duty men and women and their families. This year, special tributes will be given to the United States Coast Guard, the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the 70th Anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War, and 50th Anniversary of US Naval Women Aviators.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
The keynote address will be delivered by CWO Michael Tapp (USCG, Ret.) who served the Coast Guard for 27 years.
SOLAR SPOTLIGHT
At exactly 11:11 a.m., the sun’s rays will pass through the ellipses (circles) in each of the military branch pillars to cast a perfect solar spotlight on a glass mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States, surrounded by 5400 veteran commemorative pavers in the newly expanded Circle of Honor.
MUSIC/VIDEOS
The morning is filled with new music and videos. Live music by the Musical Theatre of Anthem Outreach Group. Additional music provided in partnership with Operation Song. Operation Song tells veteran stories through music, written with veterans by professional songwriters. Photomontages by the students of Boulder Creek High School TV Media Production, under teacher Christy Johnson (US Army veteran), will accompany the music. Videos from U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration. Additional music provided by Ralph McTell, Jimmy Flynn, Texas Tenors, and music/video by Buddy Brown.
DEDICATION OF DAR MARKER AS PART OF THE CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTS
The dedication of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) America 250 Patriots Marker into the Anthem Veterans Memorial will take place during the ceremony. Dedicating the marker will be Sarah Ziker, State Vice Regent, Arizona State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The marker was donated and presented by the Ocotillo Chapter of the DAR. The marker commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States.
CLOSED CAPTIONING
LED Screen with closed captions will be used to project the ceremony for easy visibility of speakers, music, and videos.
SEATING
ADA seating sections. Seating is limited. We encourage guests to bring lawn blankets and chairs.
PARKING
The parking lot adjacent to the AVM is restricted for ADA credentialed parking and security. Only ADA drop off permitted when lot full. Parking available off Anthem Way, soccer field parking south of AVM off Gavilan Peak, and the Community Center off Freedom Way.
SPONSORS TO DATE: Funded in part by the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services as made available through the Arizona Veterans Donation Fund and Dr. Anthony and Mrs. Shannon Gleckler.
VOLUNTEER/SPONSOR: Those who would like to volunteer their time and talents, become a sponsor, or donate to the event, please contact Elizabeth Turner at ElizabethTurnerUS@yahoo.com or 623-640-8417.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRPAHY: CWO MICHAEL TAPP (USCG, Retired) CWO Michael Tapp served in the United States Coast Guard for 27 years. His assignments at Coast Guard stations around the country included search and rescue, law enforcement and boarding officer. While doing so he was a recognized for having saved numerous lives.
CWO Tapp served on the high seas aboard Coast Guard cutters and naval vessels where he led military and homeland security operations and illegal drug and migrant interdiction operations while enforcing U.S. law and international treaties. As well, he held command of Coast Guard units charged with establishing and maintaining the nation’s navigation-aid infrastructure domestically along the west coast and the Great Lakes.
Among his formal awards, CWO Tapp is a permanent Cutterman for his years of service abroad and at sea. He has been formally awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Tapp completed an undergraduate degree in Homeland Security Studies at American Military University and in 2022 completed his graduate work in Leadership and Human Resources at Michigan State University. After a twenty-seven-year career in the Coast Guard, Chief Warrant Officer Tapp retired and entered the civilian workforce, taking a position with the Judicial Branch of Arizona in emergency and threat management. He now works for the Patriot Support Program of Universal Health Services (UHS) where he currently serves as a liaison and advocate for active-duty service members and veterans in need of behavioral health services.
Tapp resides in Anthem with his wife, Laura, a kindergarten teacher at Gavilan Peak. Together they share four adult children. Tapp has a long volunteer service record in Anthem and is the president of Daisy Mountain Veterans.
ANTHEM VETERANS MEMORIAL. The award-winning Anthem Veterans Memorial (AVM), a project of the Anthem Community Council (ACC), is located in Anthem Community Park. The Memorial was dedicated Nov. 11, 2011, to honor the service and sacrifice of our country’s armed forces. It is a place of honor and reflection for veterans, their family, and friends, and also is a place to show respect to those service men and women who have and continue to courageously serve our country. The AVM received Arizona Historic Landmark status in April 2012. www.OnlineAtAnthem.com/AVM
Anthem, Arizona is a private master planned community located in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Anthem Community Council, Inc. serves as a unifying entity for the Anthem community. The mission of the Anthem Community Council, Inc. is to establish and maintain a governing structure which will preserve, protect and enhance the plans, policies, infrastructure and resources needed to support a sense of community, ensure sound economic development, and promote a quality of life for all Anthem residents.
The Anthem Way Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established to assist in the fundraising goals for the Anthem Veterans Memorial. The Foundation was established in 2011 for, “providing services and raising funds for charitable, scientific, literary and education purposes.” The Foundation is exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. For more than 130 years, the DAR has strived to bring awareness to the honorable sacrifices and enduring legacy of all patriots who fought for America’s freedom. Through the DAR Genealogical Research System (www.dar.org/GRS), the public can access a free database of information amassed by the DAR about these patriots. DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization with more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. DAR members passionately carry out the timeless mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.dar.org.
Official Press Release
