November is a month designated to celebrate and honor all military veterans. November was chosen as the month to honor all military veterans because Veteran’s Day is usually observed on November 11. It was first incorporated as by President Wilson as Armistice Day in 1919. After WWII citizens felt that the veterans of all wars should be recognized, not just those of WWII. So in 1954 Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In America, the holiday now celebrates the approximate 2.9 million U.S. veterans with parades and ceremonies among other different celebrations. This day is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world.

L to R Paul Warn, superintendent; Sophia Medigovich, sales consultant; Gary Mazaros, superintendent; Elaine Morlock, sales consultant; Drew Lehman, sales consultant; and Dave Lawson, senior customer relations manager.

Meet folks from our Phoenix East Division who work in the Bella Via community. This group poses for a photo during a homebuyer appreciation picnic. Drew and Gary are veterans of the U.S. Navy. Drew joined the Navy in 1985 and spent six years working with helicopter squadrons out of the Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, CA. During his enlistment, Drew traveled the world, visiting such places as Africa, Australia, Korea, the Philippines and Singapore.

Gary joined the Navy upon graduating from high school in 1994, serving as a Navy Corpsmen (medic). He saw active duty as a Naval Reservist in 2003 when he was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.