'Arizona is grateful.' Hundreds attend Memorial Day ceremony at Phoenix military cemetery
The National Cemetery of Arizona was the site of a tribute attended by top state officials, including Gov. Katie Hobbs and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
The ceremony marked the 157th Memorial Day celebrated in the United States, and Hobbs proclaimed the day as Arizona Memorial Day. Memorial Day was established in honor of military members who died in service to the country.
Honor guards presented an array of U.S. flags and flags for each branch of the military, carried by servicemembers from Luke Air Force Base, the Arizona Army National Guard and more.
Fontes, a Marine Corps veteran, was the event's featured speaker and delivered remarks about diversity and respect for the ideals that formed the country.
That includes standing against tyranny in the pursuit of freedom, the secretary of state said. He reflected on the first Americans who rejected a king in favor of a system ruled by the people.
"Diversity is our strength when we recognize and acknowledge that new ideas are important," Fontes said.
Part of that he said, was maintaining respect for the U.S. Constitution.
"We are a people of progress. Sometimes through very bumpy roads, and sometimes through very rich resentment. But it is that ability to move and change that keeps us so strong," Fontes said.
Acknowledging flags placed at each of the gravesites, Fontes said, "Every single one of those flags out there represents a different point of view, not just a separate soul."
Some in the crowd perceived the speech as political and interrupted Fontes, a Democrat, with a call to speak more about veterans.
Another person in the front row waved their hands in dismissal towards Fontes and left the event.
Fontes turned his focus to the fallen veterans, their many stories and experiences.
"We will continue to remember them all in our way... Every single one of us believes in this nation and in its promise, supported by the passing and sacrifices of those who are gone," he said.
Fontes responded on social media not long after the event. "Somehow, defeating fascism is now political?" he posted.
Hobbs took the stage to honor veterans who served the country and kept its values intact.
She said the American values of liberty, democracy, equality and the rule of law are embodied in the nation's troops.
"Whether it was defeating the evils of Nazi Germany, defending our allies against communism in the Korean War or dismantling terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, the patriotism and service of every person who put on a uniform has never wavered," Hobbs said.
She also honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
"Let me say loud and clear: The entire state of Arizona is grateful for their sacrifice and will forever remember what they gave for this country and our families," Hobbs said.
Virgil Macklin smiled as he took a photo with Fontes, a kindred connection visible between the men.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Macklin started nearly 40 years in the service in the 1970s, a legacy continued by his granddaughter, who attended the event with him and now serves in the military.
"It's all about the people that gave so much for me to be here," Macklin said.
Douglas Penwell served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 20 years, including a stint working on stealth aviation equipment.
He said he knows people who died while serving the country.
"The current partisan divide in our country is disgusting to me because it ignores the service of the people that went before us," Penwell said.
He said he did not agree with the interruptions of Fontes' speech.
"Two times in your life you don't learn anything: One, when your mouth is moving. And two, when you only listen to people that agree with you," Penwell said.
The Memorial Day ceremony saw numerous musical renditions of patriotic classics like "God Bless America," the folding of the U.S. flag, the pledge of allegiance and a prayer dedicated to veterans. The music was performed by the 108th Army Band, with vocals by Steve Brining.
A flyover by the Phoenix Stearman Guys, piloting three propellor planes, drew admiration from the crowd just before the Army Band performed the National Anthem.
Randy Heard, director of the cemetery, extended the honor to all those buried at the cemetery, each of whom had a flag placed at their gravesite for the weekend.
"We have over 109,000 veterans and family members interred here. I'm happy to report we adorned every gravesite with an American flag. This is due to the tremendous support we have from the community," said Heard.
Before the memorial ended, Rick Romley, a Marine veteran and former county attorney who was the event's emcee, said after more than 10 years of hosting, the 2025 Memorial Day ceremony would be his last.
Romley's final words on stage were to honor a veteran who died in service.
Wounded while serving in Vietnam in 1969, Romley said he joined the service alongside his best friend, David, who died during the war. Romley named his first son after his friend.
Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: U.S. military cemetery in Phoenix hosts hundreds for Memorial Day
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