Page 30 November 2016 your ARcadia Realtor.com 602.463.3359 H i L L A R Y GURLEY GURLEY 3603 EASt Montecito AveNue Brought the Buyer SOLD By Rachael Bouley On Friday, November 11, there will be events throughout the country celebrating the American military and the immeasurable sacrifices of our veterans. The Arcadia and Phoenix area will hold parades, ceremonies, breakfasts and resources for veterans during the entire month of November. We have highlighted many of these opportunities below, so check them out and pay tribute to America’s heroes this month! Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 720 4853 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix One of the best community resources for local veterans is Local VFW Post 720, which offers weekly events that veterans and their families can enjoy. These include fun Friday nights, featuring a Fish Fry at 5 p.m., followed by karaoke at 7 p.m. Veterans, friends and family can join other community members for this casual get-together. On Sunday evenings at 5 p.m., Post 720 offers swing dancing lessons for veterans with a spring in their step. For more information on the VFW’s events and opportunities for Veterans, call 602-952-9646. 20th annual Phoenix Veterans Day Parade Friday, November 11, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parade begins at the corner of Central Avenue and Montebello Avenue. This annual event, presented by Honoring Arizona’s Veterans, will feature more than 100 entries representing the theme Welcome Home Vietnam Heroes. This parade is recognized as one of the nation’s best Veterans Day events, with 45,000 spectators in attendance along the parade route to honor veterans and their sacrifices. This year, expect to see a special float with 20 Vietnam Veterans, along with nearly 2,500 parade participants, including a variety of patriotic floats, high school marching bands, color guards, JROTC marching units, Veterans service organizations and much more! There will be eight Veteran Grand Marshals, each representing an era of military service, ranging from World War II to modern day. Pete Hegseth, national news correspondent and veterans advocate, will serve as the celebrity Grand Marshal of the parade. For more information, visit the official website at phoenixveteransdayparade.org. Honor the sacrifices of local veterans during November Get the whole family involved in Veterans Day activities, such as the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. nearly 2,500 parade participants, including a variety of patriotic floats, high school marching bands, color guards, JROTC marching units, Veterans service organizations and much more! There will be eight Veteran Grand

Page 31 November 2016 Application Available Online: December 1, 2016 @www.xcp.org Entrance Exam: Jan 7or Jan 21,2017 Application Due: Jan 27, 2017 4710 N. 5th St. | Phoenix, AZ 85012 | www.xcp.org | 602-277-3772 Photo by chadwickfowler.com Discover your talents. Discover your future. Discover you. Dates to remember: emember : emember East Valley Veterans Parade Friday, November 11, 11 a.m. Parade starts at N. Center Street and W. University Drive in Mesa, continues along N. Center Street and W. First Street in Mesa The annual East Valley Veterans Parade features parade sponsors and entries from Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe and more. There will be 55 participating entries, including the Aftermath Hero Foundation and the community of volunteers that make up the East Valley Veterans Parade Association. This community tradition is made possible by the members of the Parade Association, who came together to continue the parade after 2006 city budget cuts eliminated funding for the event. Local VFW Post 1760 and the Marine Corps League were instrumental in helping the parade develop into the large patriotic tribute it is today. For more info, visit evvp.org or call 480-684-2324. MANA House 755 E. Willetta Street, Phoenix In 2008, 14 veterans facing homelessness in Phoenix joined forces. Their project has since transformed into the MANA House (Marines, Army, Navy, Airforce), formerly known as the Madison Street Veterans Association. MANA is a peer-support organization for homeless and formerly homeless veterans. The organization provides support and resources for veterans trying to rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential. There are plenty of ways to help out with this organization in November and all year long, including signing up to volunteer or making a donation. The MANA House is always in need of blankets, clothes, food and water to provide to veterans in need, so clean out your closets and pantries. Monetary donations are welcome as well. For more information, or to schedule a donation drop-off, call 602-254-5752 or visit manahouseaz.org. VFW Post 3513’s Chill and Grill with AZ ST Club Friday, November 18, 2 p.m. Stanley A. Crews VFW Post 3513 7220 E. Wilshire Drive, Scottsdale It is important for veterans and their loved ones to feel involved and connected with their community, and local VFW Posts do just that. Scottsdale’s VFW Post 3513 is hosting a special afternoon event for veterans and their families. The Arizona ST car club will be on hand for the Chill and Grill afternoon, offering veterans the chance to check out some cool cars while enjoying catered Southern barbecue cuisine. Rcs for Vets will also be there, offering remote- control cars and a test track for veterans to test their skills. For more information, call 480-941-9849. Second annual Honor House wine and cheese event Saturday, November 5, 4-7 p.m. Mount Claret Center 4633 N. 54th St.,Phoenix Community members are invited to attend this fundraising event in Arcadia, presented    VETERANS DAY FACTS & FIGURES    Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated on November 11, 1919, the one year anniversary date of the end of World War I. In 1928, the United States Congress passed a resolution for Armistice Day to be an annual observation and by 1938, the day became a national holiday. Differing from Memorial Day in May, Armistice Day, which was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 under President Dwight Eisenhower, pays tribute to veterans who survived various wars. Memorial Day commemorates those veterans who lost their lives. Residents of Great Britain, Canada and Australia celebrate a similar holiday, known as Re- membrance Day. Here are a few interesting facts about veterans and Veterans Day: • According to the American Community Survey, there were 19.3 million military veterans in the United States in 2014. Of those, 1.6 million were female. • The largest number of veterans are from the states of California, Texas, and Florida. • Veterans consist of people who served in the military, in times of war and peace. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. • The word “veteran” comes from the Old English language and means “old, experienced soldier.” The first use of the word was documented in 1789. • Although many veterans are working, and the average annual income of male veterans is $37,000, some veterans continue to be unemployed. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall unemployment rate for veterans rose to 7.6 percent in January 2013. The unemployment rate of post-9/11 veterans, or those who participated in the Gulf War reached 6.2 percent. • Upon retiring or being discharged, veterans may need help acclimating to life outside the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs says about 30 percent of Vietnam War veterans have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. • Between 1971 and 1977, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. It was changed back to its original date, November 11, in 1975 when President Gerald Ford signed bill S.331 into law. The change went into effect beginning in 1978. • An American soldier was buried at the national cemetery in Arlington on November 11, 1921. His identity was unknown, and the gravesite is known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The President or another high-ranking government official places a wreath on the grave each year on Veterans Day. by The Honor House organization. Known for its Operation Healing Journey Program, Honor House helps veterans as they transition out of the military and into the civilian sector using community resources and healthy medical practices throughout the healing journey. Community and corporation donations are crucial, as they help fund scholarships for veterans to cover the cost of the 90-day program which is around $5,000. On this evening event, guests will hear testimonies from veterans who have participated in the program while enjoying wine, cheese and a chocolate fountain. Funds raised from the silent auction and the $40 tickets will be used to help local veterans in the Operation Healing Journey Program. For more information, visit thehonorhouse.org or call 602-604-6622. Phoenix Business Journal Veteran Business Summit Thursday, November 10, 7-10 a.m. Skysong Innovation Center, 1475 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Transitioning into civilian life can be challenging for veterans, especially when it comes to looking for jobs or future careers. The Phoenix Business Journal aims to aid veterans with this daunting task at the Veteran Business Summit, an event that will bring together veteran business owners and transitioning service members. It will be a morning of networking, information and education for local veterans. For more information, visit bizjournals.com/phoenix.