The City of Litchfield Park will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, at the Litchfield Elementary School World War II Memorial, continuing a tradition of honoring the people who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
The 30-minute public program, led by Mayor Thomas Schoaf, is scheduled for 7 a.m. at 255 Wigwam Blvd. It will feature patriotic music, a floral tribute, and a moment of silence. The ceremony concludes with the playing of Taps and a special memorial presentation.
The event occurs as the nation marks a holiday with roots stretching back to 1865. While the federal government officially designated Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of the holiday, alternative records suggest one of the first observances was held in Charleston, South Carolina, by a group of formerly enslaved people who organized a burial site and procession for Union soldiers.
In Litchfield Park, the ceremony remains a cornerstone of local identity. During last year's observance, Schoaf reminded attendees that the day serves as a sober accounting of the price of American liberty.
“We recognize that our freedoms are not free. All too often, they come with a price,” Schoaf said during the 2025 ceremony. “It is said of our brave military: all gave some, and some gave all.”
Last year's keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Brian “Joker” Dudley of Luke Air Force Base, highlighted the local connection to historical sacrifice by recounting the story of Maj. John Louis Jerstad. Jerstad, who trained at what is now Luke AFB, posthumously received the Medal of Honor after refusing to divert his damaged B-24 bomber during a 1943 mission over Romania, ensuring his payload hit its target before his aircraft crashed.
Dudley noted that the Litchfield Park monument itself represents the "ordinary Americans" who faced existential crises with faith and camaraderie.
“Today is more than remembrance,” Dudley told the crowd last year. “I think we should also take a moment to lift our eyes up to our neighbors... and remember that we carry more in common with our fellow Americans than we have different.”
The 2026 ceremony will follow a similar format of reflection and community.
Organizers and veterans' groups, including the Wounded Warrior Project, emphasize that the day is distinct from Veterans Day. While Veterans Day celebrates all who served, Memorial Day is reserved specifically for those who died serving in the military.
"The greatest casualty is being forgotten," stated Wilton Williamson Jr., vice president of Connection at Wounded Warrior Project. "Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor all of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice."
Following the ceremony, refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the Litchfield Elementary School South Parking Lot
Other events across the West Valley on Monday, May 25 include an 8:30 a.m. ceremony at Avondale Civic Center Amphitheater, 11465 West Civic Center Drive, and one at 8:30 a.m. in Buckeye at the Louis B. Hazelton Memorial Cemetery, 23100 W. Broadway Road.
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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