The Town of Carefree is honored to announce its annual Memorial Day Tribute, a heartfelt small-town community gathering dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The event will take place on Monday, May 26, from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Cave Creek Memorial Cemetery, located at 36400 N Pima Rd, Carefree, AZ, just south of the Cave Creek Road and Pima Road intersection.
This annual tribute brings together residents, veterans, students, scouts, and local organizations in a solemn observance of Memorial Day.
Mayor John Crane shares, “The Town of Carefree has a proud tradition of honoring our veterans. On Memorial Day, that tradition continues as we come together to recognize those who gave their lives in defense of our nation. This ceremony is a meaningful expression of our enduring gratitude.”
The program will include Captain Eric Spencer, US Army, who served over a 12-month deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an infantry officer. He led nearly 250 combat missions and patrols in southeast Baghdad in 2006 and earned the Bronze Star Medal. Molly Zehnder, Arizona State Corresponding Secretary of the Daughters of the American Revolution, will speak about a recent Honor Flight sponsored by the Arizona State Society Daughters of the American Revolution which traveled to Washington, D.C. honoring 32 female Vietnam War era veterans form Arizona. A local high school student will perform a stirring rendition of the National Anthem and God Bless America. And Pastor Jim Noble of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church will deliver the invocation.
Adding to solemnity, Boy Scout Troop 603 will present and retire the colors. Imprints of Honor, formerly Veterans Heritage Project (VHP), from Cactus Shadows High School will be in attendance, representing the younger generation’s dedication to preserving the stories and legacies of American veterans. The Black Mountain Foothills Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will provide refreshments, offering hospitality to those in attendance.
Held in the peaceful setting of a small-town pioneer cemetery, this tribute is a powerful reminder of the cost of freedom and the importance of honoring those who gave everything to defend it.
Learn more at visitcarefree.com/memorial