D owntown Mesa transforms into a patriotic celebration on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as the East Valley Veterans Parade presented by Edgecore returns for its annual tribute to America’s service members.

This year’s theme, “Ready Then, Ready Now: 250 Years of the Armed Forces,” commemorates the military’s role since the nation’s founding.

The parade runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. along University Drive and Center Street, featuring more than 105 entries and 2,000 participants.

Vintage aircraft will perform aerial demonstrations overhead, adding historical depth to the ground-level festivities. Last year’s event drew 22,000 spectators, establishing the parade as a cornerstone of East Valley tradition.

The celebration exists because two veterans refused to let a 40-year tradition disappear. When

See Full Page