This month, if you know someone who has recently made a commitment to the United States Armed Forces, I want to be the first to say how much I appreciate their decision to serve our country.

I am also extending an invitation to you, your family, and friends to attend the 2025 Military Induction Ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8 in Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave.

During this ceremony, recruits will be honored for making the decision to serve. Each recruit will receive a certificate of appreciation, along with a stol eand a specially minted challenge coin from me.

They will all then raise their right hands and collectively take the oath during a ceremonial swearing-in.

As recruits are photographed crossing the stage, they will be wearing a stole representing their respective branch of service. The stole is a gift to the recruits; many of which are current students, and I encourage them to wear the stoll at their high school graduation.

I have run across many veterans who have expressed to me that no one ever thanked them when they decided to serve. Therefore, my office in coordination with community organizations and local military recruiting offices has come together to do what’s right – thank these young men and women who have signed their name on the dotted line to defend our great nation.

I hope that you can join us for this memorable event to pay tribute to their future service, sacrifice, dedication, and commitment. This event will also be live streamed on the city of Glendale’s YouTube channel.

I look forward to seeing you there. This is a free event and is open to the public.

It warms my heart to see the eagerness in the eyes of these brave men and women. Even before I became Mayor, I have been committed in Glendale to letting them know that we have their back here at home. God bless you.