One of East Valley’s most meaningful Memorial Day traditions returns Monday, May 25, as Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery hosts its 26th Annual Memorial Day Celebration at a new 8 a.m. start time.
The free community tribute, held at Mountain View, 7900 E. Main St. in Mesa, will bring together families, veterans, students, public officials and community organizations for a morning of patriotic music, wreath-laying, military honors and reflection before the heat of the day.
For Mountain View, where more than 3,000 veterans have been laid to rest, Memorial Day is not simply a date on the calendar. It is a promise renewed each year: that sacrifice will be spoken aloud, service will be honored with reverence, and the stories resting beneath each flag will continue to be carried forward by the community those veterans helped protect.
“Memorial Day means a lot to all of us at Mountain View,” says Elisa Krcilek, vice president of Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery. “Each flag, each wreath and each song is a reminder to families that their loved ones are still remembered here. Their sacrifice matters, and it’s powerful to see this community come together year after year to honor them.”
The 2026 program will bring together many of the voices, organizations and traditions that have made the event a deeply rooted local gathering for more than two decades. Patriotic music will be performed by the Josh Roy Band, with remarks from Apache Junction Mayor Chip Wilson and Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Serdy. Opening ceremonies will feature the A.J. Mounted Rangers, American Legion Post 27 Honor Guard, Skyline High School ROTC, Civil Air Patrol Falcon Composite Squadron 305 and a spiritual reflection by Sir Knight Reverend Robert King Sr.
One of the morning’s most solemn moments will be the ceremonial laying of wreaths, presented by community organizations in honor of fallen service members. Set among cemetery grounds lined with flags marking the resting places of veterans, the tribute is designed to bring generations together: those who served, those who loved them and those learning what service means.
Highlights of Mountain View’s 26th Annual Memorial Day Celebration:
- Patriotic music. The Josh Roy Band will perform music honoring America’s service members and veterans.
- Community leaders. Apache Junction Mayor Chip Wilson and Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Serdy will share remarks during the morning program.
- Opening ceremonies. The A.J. Mounted Rangers, American Legion Post 27 Honor Guard, Skyline High School ROTC, Civil Air Patrol Falcon Composite Squadron 305 and Sir Knight Reverend Robert King Sr. will take part in the tribute.
- Ceremonial wreath-laying. Community organizations will present wreaths in honor of fallen service members.
- Hospitality for guests. Complimentary doughnuts, coffee, American flag pins, poppies, flowers, fans and water will be available.
- Post-event fellowship. After the ceremony, guests are invited to join American Legion Post 27, VFW Post 7968 or VFW Post 9399 for lunch. Call 480-832-2850 for more details.
“Memorial Day has a way of bringing people back to what really matters,” says Greg Coury, owner of Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery. “For us, it is an honor to open our grounds to the community each year and create a place where people can pause, reflect and feel connected to something bigger than themselves.”
Family-owned and serving the East Valley for 75 years, Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery has long been both a place of mourning and a place of legacy. Each Memorial Day, that mission becomes visible across the grounds through flags, flowers, music, uniforms, handshakes, prayers and the quiet moments shared by families who return year after year. The 26th Annual Memorial Day Celebration is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for parking and seating and may bring chairs or blankets for comfort.
Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery is located at 7900 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ 85207. For more information, call 480-832-2850 or visit mountainviewfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
