Nov. 5, 2007
Contact: Jan Horne Public Information Coordinator, (480) 312-2636
City commemorates Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 9
Brigadier General Thomas Browning (Retired, United States Air Force) will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Veterans Day event on Friday, Nov. 9.
The program will be at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, southeast corner of Indian Bend and Scottsdale roads. At 3 p.m., General Dynamics will provide refreshments, and the 108th Army National Guard Band will play patriotic music. The official part of the program begins at 3:30 p.m. with the presentation of colors and the playing of the National Anthem.
The program is being commemorated two days before the official Veterans Day, Nov. 11, because the park where the event is being held cannot accommodate weekend crowds, along with the significant number of people who attend this event.
Browning retired from active duty in October 1992 and began his career as President and Chief Executive Officer of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL) in February 1993. Prior to his work with GPL, Browning had a decorated military career, spending more than six and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He spent the final two years of his military career as commander of the 58th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base.
Browning’s service to his country has transferred into a commitment to his community. Among his many affiliations, he serves on the Board of Directors of Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz); President’s Advisory Board, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; ASU Technopolis; Veteran’s Medical Leadership Council; past Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona (formerly Valley Big Brothers Big Sisters); and is a past Director of Valley of the Sun United Way. He is a member of the Military Affairs Commission, Governor’s Council on Workforce Policy, and an active member of the Air Force Association, Order of Daedalions, Valley Leadership, and Arizona Town Hall.
His many awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. In addition, he is one of only a few Americans to ever be decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan. In September 2005, Browning received the Medal of Honor Society’s Distinguished Citizen Award.
Other speakers include Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross; U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell; Maj. Gen. David P. Rataczak, Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard; Captain Steve Kornatz of the U.S. Naval Command College and Chaparral High School junior Alexa Vogtritter.
Scottsdale Unified School District students, City of Scottsdale Police Explorers and Bugler Gil Gifford are also participating in the program.
The program is free and open to the public. Call the city at (480) 312-2335 for more information.