2018 Daisy Mountain Veterans Parade is Saturday, Nov. 3
Come for the Parade…
In its 14th year, the Daisy Mountain Veterans Parade is scheduled to rumble through Anthem starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, assuming weather permits. The dozens of parade participants include the Shriners, Central Arizona Jeepers, Daisy Mountain Fire Department and many local businesses, clubs and schools, all led by the Anthem Young Marines Color Guard.
The parade starts just north of Daisy Mountain Drive, heads north on Gavilan Peak Parkway, then east on Anthem Way to finish at the Community Center.
… Stay for the Picnic
The related Charity Picnic, in its fifth year, takes place in Anthem Community Park (softball fields 3 and 4) starting at 11 a.m. on the same day. On the menu: food trucks, live music, giant games like Jenga, Battleship and checkers, bounce houses, plus face painting. And… a cornhole tournament (the registration deadline for the tourney has passed).
The picnic is organized by Anthem Young Professionals and benefits Youth for Troops and Daisy Mountain Veterans.
Both events are open to the public.
Black Hawk Down
This year’s parade honors those who served in Somalia, as part of the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu. On Oct. 3, 1993, U.S. Joint Special Operations force got underway to seize two lieutenants of the self-proclaimed Somali president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
Shortly after the planned hour-long mission began, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. An overnight battle ensued. Eighteen Americans died, 73 were wounded and one helicopter pilot was captured. Somali casualty estimates range from hundreds to thousands.
The event was chronicled in Mark Bowden’s book “Black Hawk Down,” later made into a movie.
Parade Entrants
This list was provided by the Daisy Mountain Veterans and is shown in alphabetical order:
AG Trail Riders (Arroyo Grande)
American Heritage Girls Troop AZ5110
Anthem Army Recruiting Station
Anthem Blue Softball
Anthem School
Anthem Youth Advisory Council
Arizona LD1 Democrats
Azteca
B12 Bombshells, Dames on Duty
Boulder Creek High School
Boulder Creek Mountain Bike Team
Canyon Springs STEM Academy Students and Staff
Caurus Academy
Central Arizona Jeepers
Congresswoman Debbie Lesko
Cox Veterans ERG
Cub Scout Pack 432
Cub Scout Pack 247
Cub Scout Pack 431
Cub Scout Pack 536
Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical
Desert Mountain Girl Scouts
Desert Wolf Tours
Diamond Canyon Advanced Band
Discover Financial
Dynamic Motion Dance Academy
EST Enterprises
Full Throttle Automotive Repair
Gavilan Peak School Honor Societies & Jazz Band
Gold Rush Cheer
Gold Rush Elite
Hair n’ Dipity Salon and Spa and The Bloc Project
Judge Gerald A. Williams
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department
Merrill Gardens at Anthem
Military Assistance Mission
Mini-Occasions (miniature horses)
Musical Theatre of Anthem
MVP Shooter’s Den
Nanette McClelland-Miller, State Farm Agency
North Valley Regional Library and Veterans Heritage Project
North Valley Young Marines of Anthem
Ocotillo Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution of Anthem
OSR Physical Therapy
Paige Phelps
Phoenix Police Department
Phoenix Shriners
Pit Stop Lube & Auto Repair
Preferred Businesses at Anthem (PBA)
Prima Dance Arizona performers
Reflections Body Spa and Tanning
Regional Pavement Maintenance
Ridgeline Academy
Ron Brown, 67 Ford F100
Rosati’s and Game On
Rotary Club of Anthem
Royal Rangers Outpost 128
Royal Twist Salute To Veterans
Sandra Day O’Connor High School Air Force JROTC
Sergeant First Class Jim Fortner
Smokey Bear
Sydney Hay
Texas Roadhouse (Happy Valley)
The Winn Family
US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, George Horvath Division
US Submarine Veterans
Youth and Children Honoring Veterans (from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Gavilan Peak Ward)
Youth for Troops
