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Perch Base
Phoenix Veterans
Day Parade
Fifteen Perch Base members took the USS Phoenix float to the Annual Phoenix Veterans
Day Parade presented by the non-profit Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV) on November 11th, 2025.
It was an honoring experience that many of the other parade floats were business and community groups supporting
veterans, but when groups like us with actual veterans on board passed by, the crowds lining the parade route really let out
cheers and clapping!
We met at 8 AM to stage the float at the Firestone Complete Auto Care at 241 W Osborn Rd. Thanks to Firestone for
letting us use your store lot (and bathroom!) and then rode the float to the parade starting point.
True to the military theme of "Hurry up and wait!" we arrived at the parade starting point at
9:34 AM, but as entry number 70 (of 91) we finally started to roll at 12:28 PM.
This year’s parade theme was
"America, Our Guiding Light."
Organizers anticipated 45,000 spectators along the parade route based on last year. The Celebrity Grand Marshall was
Randy Couture and the Business Community Grand Marshal was Freddy Alvarez (a submariner).
Seven Veteran Grand Marshals, represented each era of military service from World War II
to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Click on any thumbnail for a larger picture.
Perch Base members (l-r:) Dan Marks, Brad Seidel, Carl Miner, CC Clarke, Joe Trotter, W. Howard Doyle, Jr., Don Robertson, Dave Heighway, Marcus Hensley, Kirby Anderson, Paul Miller, Chris Gahan, Ed Henry, Bob Gilmore, Governor Joy.
Serveral more group photos, just in case someone blinked.
Serveral more group photos, just in case someone blinked.
Thanks to Firestone for letting us use their parking lot to stage the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float.
Thanks to Marcus Hensley for towing the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float. Marcus came in from Fort Mojave (almost 250 miles!) to participate in the parade and tow our the float. Several Perch Base members staging the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float.
Several Perch Base members staging the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float.
Several Perch Base members staging the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float.
Several Perch Base members staging the USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float.
The USS Phoenix (SSN-702) float ready to roll.
Thanks to CC Clarke for this photo.
Another fine photo by CC Clarke.
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
Other Perch Base members staging the "People Trailer."
We then rolled to the starting point of the parade at the North Phoenix Baptist Church at Central Avenue &
Bethany Home Road at 9:34 AM and waited for the parade to start. We were #70 (of 91) in the parade order and didn't
actually start rolling until 12:28 PM.
Thanks to Don Robertson who towed the "People Trailer."
The USS Phoenix (SSN-702) waiting to roll in the parade.
The parade started with a flyorer at 11 AM.
The parade started with a flyorer at 11 AM.
A fine photo of the flyorer by CC Clarke.
Entering the parade route at 12:28 PM.
Three Perch Base members walked the parade route. Governor Joy shown here.
Three Perch Base members walked the parade route. Ed Henry shown here.
Three Perch Base members walked the parade route. Paul Miller shown here.
The other Perch Base members rode the "People Trailer."
(Marcus Hensley towed the float and Don Robertson towed the "People Trailer.")
Thanks to Marcus for this photo.
Photos of the appreciative onlookers.
Several additional photos of the appreciative onlookers.
Several additional photos of the appreciative onlookers.
Several additional photos of the appreciative onlookers.
Several additional photos of the appreciative onlookers.
Several additional photos of the appreciative onlookers.
The remainder of theses photos are some of the other entries in the parade, in no particular order, as I wandered around the staging area at the North Phoenix Baptist Church:
Click on any thumbnail for a larger picture.
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