By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — Main Street was filled with waving flags, marching youth, and community pride on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, as Safford hosted its annual Veterans Day celebrations, honoring the service, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of the nation’s military members.
The morning kicked off with a vibrant parade featuring 21 entries marching down Main Street toward the Graham County Courthouse. Leading the procession as grand marshal was Steve Oller, a former commandant of American Legion Post 32 and a decorated Vietnam War combat medic who earned the Silver Star.
A Tribute to Defenders and Families
Following the parade, a packed crowd gathered on the steps of the Graham County Courthouse for the annual Veterans Day Ceremony. American Legion Post 32 Vice-Commander John Meyer emceed the morning’s presentations, reflecting on the holiday’s profound meaning and the quiet dedication of those who wear the uniform.
“Most veterans do not return home looking for recognition. Most just return to normal civilian life,” Meyer told the audience. Highlighting the holiday’s historical roots, which evolved from Armistice Day marking the end of World War I, Meyer reminded attendees of George Washington’s wise words: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”
Meyer also urged community members to visit the nearby Graham County Field of Honor, which pays tribute to local service members who made the ultimate sacrifice, were missing in action, or endured life as prisoners of war.
Meyer emphasized the spirit that unites generations of service members, quoting legendary World War II soldier Audie Murphy: “‘The true soldier fights not because he hates what’s in front of him, but because of what he loves behind him.’ That spirit has guided generations of American veterans. It guides the men and women who defend us today.”
The featured speaker, retired Air Force Captain Chris Gibbs, shifted focus to an often-overlooked group: the spouses and children who hold down the fort while loved ones deploy. Drawing on his family’s decades of active-duty service—including deploying his wife to a NATO combat zone in Kosovo—Gibbs praised the resilience of military families.
“How many were family members, spouses, children of military members?” Gibbs asked the crowd. “We sometimes forget how much these people play in the life of a veteran. They take on the responsibility… We in the military can’t raise our hand if we don’t have somebody willing to wait, willing to be there for us, willing to take care of the awesome responsibility of being both parents at the same time.”
Music, Tributes, and Marine Corps Tradition
Musical tributes resonated across downtown Safford during the ceremony, featuring a combined performance of the National Anthem by the Safford and Thatcher High School Marching Bands, followed by a solemn rifle salute executed by the Gila Valley Honor Guard.
The program concluded with a dual celebration as Safford City Manager Eric Bejarano took the podium to honor both Veterans Day and the 251st birthday of the United States Marine Corps, officially established on Nov. 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.
Bejarano, a Marine Corps veteran who served from 1992 to 1998, drew a powerful parallel during his remarks.
“What if I told you that there are men and women who are willing to sign a blank check, knowing that the ultimate payment could be their very lives, so that you and I can live in freedom,” Bejarano asked. “A blank check, no dollar amount, no guarantee… just a commitment that says, ‘I am willing to give everything, up to and including my life, in service to my country.'”
In keeping with time-honored military tradition and for the third year in a row locally, the ceremony featured the ceremonial cutting of the Marine Corps birthday cake with an NCO sword. True to custom, the first slice was presented to the oldest Marine in attendance, 88-year-old Fred Sainz (who served from 1956 to 1978), who then passed a piece to the youngest Marine present, 33-year-old Jonathan Boni (who served from 2011 to 2015).
As the morning events drew to a close, speakers and city leaders encouraged community members to carry the spirit of gratitude forward every day of the year, ensuring that the sacrifices of local veterans are never forgotten.
Click here to view the Gila Herald’s Photo Album of the parade.
