Luis Gonzalez joins 7 military veterans as Phoenix Veterans Day Parade grand marshals

PHOENIX — The Arizona men and women who served in the military will be honored Monday in the 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.

Seven military veterans and one celebrity — Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez — will serve as grand marshals for the 28th annual event, which starts on Central Avenue just south of Bethany Home Road, near the NPHX Church, at 11 a.m.

The parade route runs south on Central, east on Camelback Road and south on Seventh Street until it ends at Indian School Road.

What’s the 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade theme?

This year’s Phoenix Veterans Day Parade has the theme of “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans: Sacrifice Remembered.”

David Hunt, whose military career spans decades and two deployments, was selected to represent the Vietnam era as a grand marshal. He said the honor is a way for him to keep everything in perspective and pay tribute to his comrades.

“Fifty-eight thousand never made it home, so anytime I can shed light on honoring them, I’m all for it,” he said.

Retired Staff Sgt. Rosa Regalado, meanwhile, is being the Afghanistan War grand marshal for the 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. She said the parade is a platform to advocate for women in the military.

After serving nine tours in both the Army and Navy, she said she is just now realizing what a sacrifice it was.

“It was not easy being a female in the service, especially having children and having to leave them. Because you knew at the end of the day, you had to fulfill the mission,” she said.

Regalado was the first women in her family to join the military. She said although it was tough, enlisting was never a question.

William Keim (World War II), William “Bill” Merdick (Korea), Thomas Kendra (Persian Gulf War), James Wolfenden (Iraq War) and Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society Nancy Fassbender are the other veteran grand marshals.

Diamondbacks legend honored for role in 2024 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade

Their commitments, and the dedication of all veterans, are appreciated by Gonzalez, who cemented his status as an Arizona sports hero with his game-winning hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

Gonzalez said he’s honored to be able to show his thanks to veterans for their service as grand marshal, and he encouraged members of the public to attend to show their gratitude.

“This is an opportunity for the people that live here in Phoenix to say thank you for everything that they’ve done for us; they’re unsung heroes,” he said.