Maricopa Memorial Day tribute (gallery)

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Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12043 hosted a Memorial Day ceremony at the Maricopa Veterans Center on Monday. Speakers included Sheriff Paul Babeu and Lt. Col. Allen Kirksey, the new leader of the Air Force Jr. ROTC program at Maricopa High School.

It was the last post event to be conducted by Mike Kemery, who is stepping down as commander. Denis Sommerfield was elected to lead the post. Also at the program, retired Col. Charles Millar brought in military vehicles, and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office brought in a Vietnam War-era helicopter.

The Leading Edge Chorus performed patriotic songs, and the Maricopa High School Air Force JrROTC Color Guard raised the American and POW/MIA flags.

Raquel Hendrickson
Raquel, a.k.a. Rocky, is a sixth-generation Arizonan who spent her formative years in the Missouri Ozarks. After attending Temple University in Philadelphia, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and has been in the newspaper business since 1990. She has been a sports editor, general-assignment reporter, business editor, arts & entertainment editor, education reporter, government reporter and managing editor. After 16 years in the Verde Valley-Sedona, she moved to Maricopa in 2014. She loves the outdoors, the arts, great books and all kinds of animals.