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The Anthem Veterans Memorial

The Anthem Veterans Memorial is a special monument in Anthem, Arizona. It was built in 2011 to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This memorial helps us remember their sacrifices and service to our country.

What Makes the Memorial Special?

The memorial has five tall white pillars. Each pillar stands for one of the main parts of the U.S. military. These are the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The pillars are placed in a specific order.

The Sun's Special Show

Each pillar has a unique opening that slants downwards. These openings point towards a symbol called The Great Seal of the United States. On Veterans Day, which is November 11, something amazing happens. At exactly 11:11 AM Mountain Standard Time, the sun's rays shine through the pillars. They perfectly light up The Great Seal. This special moment reminds us of the importance of Veterans Day.

Sometimes, because of how calendars work, this perfect alignment might happen a little before or after 11:11 AM. It can even be seen a day before or after Veterans Day.

Remembering Veterans

Around the memorial, there are 2,200 red paving stones. Each stone has the name of a veteran carved into it. These stones are a way to remember all the people who have served. The red stones, the white pillars, and the blue Arizona sky together show the colors of the flag of the United States.

Who Designed It?

Renee Palmer-Jones created the beautiful design for the memorial. James Martin was the engineer who helped make sure it could be built.

Awards and Recognition

The Anthem Veterans Memorial has won several awards for its design and meaning.

  • It was named an Arizona Historic Landmark in 2012. This was given by the Arizona Historical Society.
  • It also won the Arizona Public Works Project of the Year Award in 2012. This award came from the American Public Works Association.
  • The American Consulting Engineers Companies gave it the ACEC Grand Award in 2012. This was for being a top engineering and environmental project.
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