Water came in handy during the morning heat on Monday, June 27, in Fountain Hills.
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The keynote speaker was Waya Schiller, 1SG Arizona Army National Guard (Ret.).
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Memorial Day honors those who lost their lives while in service to the United States during peace and war, a solemn day to reflect on veterans and military personnel who are deceased.
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From left, Bob and Liz Hahn and Holly and Steve Messel celebrate Memorial Day together.
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Fountain Hills had a morning high of 90 degrees and 97 degrees in the afternoon.
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Harry Lipman brought his water bottle for the 9 a.m. ceremony at Fountain Park.
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The Memorial Day ceremony is an annual event organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7507, American Legion Post 58 and the Marine Corps League Detachment 1439.
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From left, American Legion Post 58 Historian Jeff Cain and American Legion Post 58 member Jerry Danni enjoy a morning at the Veterans Memorial in Fountain Hills.
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Post 58 Sr. Vice Commander Ritz-Tyler Sadang offered closing comments by asking how many people knew someone who had died as a result of the war.
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The American Legion Post 58 took the lead this year in organizing the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony.
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Many who gathered on Memorial Day brought their own seats to enjoy the ceremony.
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The ceremony began at 9 a.m. and ran for approximately 45 minutes.
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The Color Guard posting their colors.
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VFW Post 7507 Commander Bill Luzinski (right) handed out Buddy Poppies before the ceremony began.
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Umbrellas came in handy to avoid direct sunlight.
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The Guy family enjoyed the holiday at Fountain Park.
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American Legion Post 58 sold “Red Shirt Friday” shirts in support of veterans.
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Post 58 Sr. Vice Commander Ritz-Tyler Sadang provided opening and closing comments during the Memorial Day ceremony.
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Al Demange of the American Legion Post 58 led the gathered public in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Schiller spent over 30 years of military service including in Operation Desert Storm, Bosnia, Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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Marine Corps League Sq. 1439 Commandant Dave Nelson provided statistics on the number of military fatalities in all major wars involving the U.S. in the last 250 years.
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Debbie Fisher led in the National Anthem, the singing of “God Bless America” and Taps.
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