Tempe recognizes 38 service-related graduates with annual send-off gala at the Center for the Arts

Tempe Community Tributes honor recent graduates and residents of the city who are bound for the United States Armed Forces. –Photos by Billy Hardiman for wranglernews.com

Tempe high school graduates and residents who have pledged to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces were honored May 9 during the eighth annual Tempe Community Salutes at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Kauri Crownhart and the Manhattan Dolls entertain during Tempe Community Greetings.

Representatives of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines were on hand along with a Marine Bodyguard to greet the 38 midshipmen.

Since 2015, when the program began, Tempe Councilmember Robin Arredondo‐Savage, an Army veteran, has shaken hands with more than 300 service-bound Tempe residents at the ceremony.

“We started this program eight years ago as a hometown tribute to honor young adults who will enter military service and to recognize their families for their support,” Arredondo-Savage said. “I’m proud to have been there every year to personally say thank you to them.”

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Band of Arizona helps give service-bound Tempe high school graduates a memorable sendoff.

The Patriot Guard Riders of Arizona, a group of veterans, greeted guests as they entered. Entertainment was provided by vintage entertainment singers The Manhattan Dolls, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Band of Arizona and the East Valley Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus.

WM, Sender, Gammage & Burnham and Blue Star Mothers sponsored the program.

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2022 Community Tribute Winners

Army

Lily Brown, Timothy E. Hardiman, James A. Ledo, Mariana Herrera Plascencia, Linda Quincy, Zachary S. Ray.

Marine

Five of 12 from Tempe bound for US Navy.

Nadja Messerschmidt, Michael Nunez, Kyle Prescott, Alexis Delgado, Colin Gilmore, Keira Schreckengost, Ynhi Nguyen, Peter Nguyen, Marco Rosas Troncoso, Leah Finstrom, Dustin Carmona, Kevin Morales Loera.

Aviation

The four from Tempe bound for the US Air Force.

Carlos Herrera, Hunter Marnelos, Abelardo Sandoval, Zoe Stone.

Marines

Three of 17 from Tempe bound for the US Marine Corps.

Karime Acostabucio, William Christian, Michael Chadwick, Antonio Elizarraraz, Alfonso Gamez, Azael Gamez Ramirez, Jocelyn Angelina Gonzalez, Nicolas Angel, Haines Pizzaro, Leon Edward Jenkins, Francis Taylor Jones, Mariette Mbaju, Javin Quang Nguyen, Valeria Marylynn Parker, Xavier Fernando Ramírez, Alejandro Rosales Montejo, Victor Zazueta.