ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix hosting first Star Spangled Celebration

May 23, 2014, 2:34 PM | Updated: 2:34 pm

PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix is hosting its’ first-ever Star Spangled Celebration, starting at 5:00 p.m. Friday afternoon at Cesar Chavez Park.

It’s designed as a party that will also honor veterans, and Phoenix police and firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty.

“We’re going to have a water zone where kids can be sprayed by firefighters,” said Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski. “We’re going to have jumping castles, food, hot dogs, and live entertainment.”

There will be a special area to honor those killed in the line of duty.

“We’re calling it ‘Hero Lane,'” said Nowakowski. “We have seven foot tall banners (that honor the heroes). They’re on all of the light poles.”

At 8:00 p.m., there will be a special ceremony.

“We’re going to have some family members give testimonies about their loved ones that have passed away,” Nowakowski said. “And then we’re going to have these lanterns. People can actually write different people’s names on them that have fallen, and we’re going to lay them near the lake.”

They will be in place there during a special fireworks show that starts at 9:00 p.m.

The event will be going on from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. this evening at the park, which is located near 35th Ave. and Baseline Road.

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Phoenix hosting first Star Spangled Celebration