PHOENIX — U-Haul Team Members and their families extended their warmest thanks to veterans in the form of handshakes and triumphant waves on Nov. 11 at the 2017 Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.

A sea of red, white and blue filled the busy downtown corridors on Saturday as the parade stretched from Bethany Home Road to Indian School Road, just a few blocks north of U-Haul corporate headquarters. Marching bands, bald eagle-themed floats and a line of U-Haul trucks made an appearance along the route.

The presence of U-Haul in the 21st annual event is nothing new. Local appreciation for the Company’s commitment to honoring, helping and hiring veterans grows each year among the thousands of parade spectators.

Six U-Haul trucks donning U.S. Armed Forces SuperGraphics were received with smiles and applause. Team Members also handed American flags to children and hand-messaged greeting cards to veterans. The cards were designed by Gold Star mother and artist Katherine Cross. Her work has been supported by U-Haul for many years.

Supporting Our Troops

Carl White got his hands on the bullhorn again this year. He roused onlookers with his booming chants of “U.S.A.” and “Support Our Troops.” White, a 21-year U-Haul Team Member and part of the U-Haul building maintenance staff, has veterans in his family.

“It’s about realizing that our troops should be appreciated,” White said. “We should be glad they’re here for us. I just love doing this. My father and siblings were in the military. But I’ll tell you what, if they came and asked today, I’d suit up with them.”

At U-Haul, nothing compares to the honor of shaking the hand of a veteran and offering a humble “thank you.” These parades present an ideal opportunity to express that gratitude.

A Veteran’s Perspective

“Our military is a distinguished group of men and women, and they’re requested to do things that most Americans would not dare to do,” said Carolina Hickman, U-Haul operations system specialist. “They have spent days, even years, away from family and loved ones. Many times, they have put careers on hold and even sacrificed their lives to protect our country. They provide us the freedoms and rights we exercise every day.”

Hickman is also an Army veteran. Her father was a Korean War veteran. She has participated in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade the last seven years.

“It means a lot to see U-Haul being such a staunch supporter of this dedicated group of veterans,” she added. “To see and feel the appreciation of these heroes is incredible. Every year I look forward to the parade. I feel honored to shake each hand along the parade route and acknowledge all they have done for this country.”

Finally, U-Haul partners with many charitable organizations that assist veterans’ causes and is proud to be recognized as one of the top veteran-friendly employers in the U.S.

Are you a veteran who is interested in finding a career with U-Haul? Please visit uhauljobs.com for positions currently available.