Solar Spotlight at the Anthem Veterans Memorial 2025 in Arizona

Once a year, on Veterans' Day, the sun shines perfectly on this spot

Dates: November 11

The Anthem Veterans Memorial (AVM), located in Anthem Community Park in a northern suburb of Phoenix, is dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and service of the U.S. military. The memorial features five pillars, each representing one of the branches of the U.S. military: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The tallest of these pillars stands at 17 feet (5 meters) high, symbolizing the strength and unity of the armed forces.

Anthem Veterans Day Ceremony

Visit the Anthem Veteran’s Day Memorial to honor, salute, and support our veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. This annual event will take place on Veterans Day, November 11. The day’s activities begin with breakfast at 8:15 am, followed by the Pinning ceremony at 9:15 am, and the main ceremony starting at 10 am. The Anthem Veteran’s Day Memorial is located within the Anthem Community Park on Gavilan Peak Parkway.

Solar Spotlight

At precisely 11:11 am each Veterans Day (November 11), the monument's shadows align, and the sun's rays pass through the ellipses of the five Armed Services pillars to form a solar spotlight on the glass mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States. The monument's engineers created fixed azimuth and a fixed altitude angle to achieve the desired effect. The sun gets to the right place in the memorial, even with the yearly variations.

Anthem Veterans Memorial

The monument, designed by Renee Palmer-Jones, features a Circle of Honor where the names of servicemen and women, both past and present, are inscribed on brick pavers available for purchase. The design incorporates the colors of the American flag—red pavers, white pillars, and a blue sky. The five pillars symbolize the unity of the five branches of the United States military, each adorned with its respective seal and arranged according to the Department of Defense's order of precedence. The circle, flanked by two "Soldier Rows," represents an unbreakable border, reflecting the steadfast commitment of the military.