At the Anthem Veterans Memorial in Arizona, the sun becomes part of the tribute.
The memorial is designed so that, at 11:11 a.m. on Veterans Day, sunlight passes through openings in five white pillars and lands on a glass mosaic of the Great Seal of the United States.
Five separate pillars, working together to create one pool of light. That is a beautiful way to honor the people this place was built for.
How the 11:11 sunlight alignment works
According to the Anthem Community Council, each pillar has an elliptical opening. Their placement allows the sun’s rays to travel through all five and form a spotlight on the mosaic at the foot of the memorial.
The time is deliberate: 11:11 a.m. on November 11. The council connects the ceremony’s timing to the Armistice.
Sunshine is part of the equation, of course. The council explicitly describes the solar illumination as weather permitting, so the design does not guarantee a visible spotlight through clouds.
What the five pillars represent
The pillars honor the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as documented in the Arizona Legislature’s 2012 resolution honoring the memorial. They are arranged in Department of Defense order of precedence.
The symbolism continues underfoot. Veterans’ names appear on brick pavers in the Circle of Honor. The red pavers, white pillars and blue sky bring the colors of the American flag into the setting.
The memorial was dedicated on November 11, 2011. The council’s 2026 Veterans Day announcement marked its 15th anniversary.
Where to find it
The Anthem Veterans Memorial is in Community Park at 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, Arizona.
For the annual Veterans Day gathering, the council advises visitors to arrive early and bring a folding chair or blanket because seating and nearby parking are limited. Its ceremony page also links to recordings from earlier years, including a 2015 time-lapse of the sunlight alignment.
If a clip of the illuminated seal has crossed your feed, there is a real design behind that moment. If you visit, leave time to read the names surrounding those pillars.
