Vietnam Veteran Remembrance, Saturday, March 17, at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet

The public is invited to attend a Vietnam Veteran Remembrance at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet Saturday, March 17 at 11 a.m. in the stage area of the Food Court.

The Motorcycle Color Guard of America will begin the remembrance. by presenting the American flag, and will also honor veterans in the audience by presenting flags for the five branches of the Armed Forces and the POW MIA flag.

Keven Moen will sing the National Anthem, and other songs.

The Patriot Youth Corps will remember those who gave their lives by performing the Salt and Wounded Warrior ceremonies.

Army Medic, Chuck Byers will ‘Welcome Home’ fellow Vietnam Veterans, will share his tour in Vietnam and reflect on the faithfulness of Vietnam-deployed troops to their mission and to one another.

The Arizona Military Museum will set up a display of Vietnam-era militaria for this event. The museum is located at Papago, at the Arizona National Guard base at 52nd St. and McDowell Rd In Phoenix. It is run by the Arizona National Guard Historical Society

The Vietnam Veteran, who was shunned in the 1960’s and 1970’s by the public, is an advocacy powerhouse today, partnering with Korean War Veterans to ensure that Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans are cared for and honored properly, something denied to them.

This remembrance is not only to remember the more than 58,000 service people who died, it is a tribute to the continuing sacrifices made by surviving Veterans and their families to ensure that the returning veteran is supported and has an honored place at the American table.

Before and after the remembrance, adults and children are invited to write notes and color pictures to go into ‘Packages From Home’ care packages that will be sent to Armed Forces personnel serving in the Middle East.

The Mesa Market Place is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is at 10550 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209, at exit 193 Signal Butte Rd. and Hwy 60. Info: 480-380-5572 and www.mesamarket.com. Fully handicapped accessible. Free Parking, admission, and entertainment

Come celebrate Easter with us on Saturday, March 31, from 10am to 2pm. Lots of fun for everyone, especially families and young folks!

Come get your face painted, get a balloon made into a magical creature, Drawings, too!

Everyone will be able to color pictures, too, for care packages that will go to soldiers serving overseas in the Middle East.

Click here for a printable FoEver Here Car Show Flyer. 

(Printable Registration Form at the bottom)

Head over to Mesa Market Place on Saturday, April 7 for the FoEver Here Charity Car Show! You’ll see hundreds of vehicles in all their glory, and you’ll support the mission of FoEver Here, too!

Each vehicle will have a donation pot in front of it. When you like a vehicle, drop money into the pot. At the end of the day, the vehicle collecting the most money wins First Place! It’s that easy! You can do good and have fun at the same time!

You’ll help raise money to support funeral costs when a young person dies. Families are often not prepared when a youngster dies.

You can get more info, flyers, and the registration form at https://FoEverHere.eventbrite.com/ and at www.mesamarket.com

This Show benefits the mission of FoEver Here, Inc. 100% of the proceeds of this show go to help Parents who have lost a child 21 yrs. old and younger with funeral, burial and other related services. For more info contact Tish Woods, FoEver Here, Inc. at 480-246-4954, FoEverHere@gmail.com.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at Mesa Market Place on Saturday, May 12
from 8am to 1pm in the Food Court!

Enter to win a prize for Mom:
-Faith Hill/ Tim McGraw concert tickets for two
-Dolly Steamboat passes
-Desert Belle passes with live performances from The Southwest
Surfers
-Harkins Movie Passes
-Market Money
-and Merchant Gift Certificates!

And… be sure to bring the whole family! Kids are invited to paint a
rock as a gift for their Mom!

Cord Price will entertain!

Mama’s Desert Bazaar will be going on, also!

Date: Saturday May 12th 2018
Time: 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Where: Mesa Market Place
10550 E. Baseline Rd
Mesa, AZ 85209

Independence Event at Mesa Market Place, Saturday, June 30, from 9am to Noon

 You’re invited to attend our Independence Event at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet Saturday, June 30 from 9:00 a.m. until Noon. The event will take on Row C, just behind the Food Court.

If you stop by the event for no other reason, make sure you enter to win Keith Urban Concert tickets! Enter to win by Noon!

It will be an action-packed event. Children’s events will run from 9:00 a.m. until Noon. Everyone will want to jump into the Epic Game Trailer!

The Epic Game Trailer holds up to sixteen players inside and four outside. That’s five high def TVs in all. The video game party comes fully equipped with seat rumblers, LED lights, lasers and disco balls. They’re equipped with Xbox 360s, Xbox One, Wii and Wii U. … Lots of games, too!

There will also be lots of face painting, balloon art, coloring, drawing and note-writing, for both kids and grownups.

The Arizona Army National Guard, Mesa Police Department, and Mesa Fire Department will also exhibit equipment.

There will be a craft table and Amber will help kids and grownups make some fun crafts.

Kids and grownups will also be able to color pictures and write notes to Armed Forces Personnel serving in the Middle East.

Here’s what will happen to all the colored pictures and notes that will be created at this event: Packages From Home sends thousands of care packages to military personnel serving in the Middle East every year, and will not send a package out without including a personal note or picture in it.

All of your creations will be delivered to them to remind our active duty Armed Forces personnel that they are remembered and are appreciated. Many of them are parents, and it means a lot to them to get an original piece of art from a young person. For more information about Packages From Home, go to www.packagesfromhome.org.

Mesa Market Place is open Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and is located at 10550 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209, at exit 193 Signal Butte Rd. and Hwy 60. Info: 480-380-5572 and www.mesamarket.com. Fully handicapped accessible. Free Parking, admission, and entertainment.

Click here for a printable Registration Form.

Car show to raise money for the Arizona Humane Society

If you like car shows and you love what the Arizona Humane Society does to ease the lives of dogs, cats and other domestic animals, then you’ll want to head over to the 2018 Charity Car Show Saturday, September 1 at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet. The show runs from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

The Arizona Humane Society Waggin’ Wheels Mobile Adoption Vehicle will also be at the car show, full of puppies and dogs looking for a good home. Adoptions will take place from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Animal lovers are also invited to donate pet food, bedding and toys for all the animals in the care of the Arizona Humane Society’s two campuses.

More than 100 vintage, classic, and modified cars, trucks, and motorcycles are expected to be on display in the hopes that car enthusiasts and animal lovers will stuff dollar bills into money bins set in front of each vehicle.

“Exhibitors are even encouraged to solicit votes (money) before the car show begins,” says Shirley Blahak, event organizer. “The goals of the car show are straight forward: to get together with other car aficionados, to have a good time, and to raise as much money as possible for the Arizona Humane Society.” It’s all in good fun because 100% of the money the vehicles raise will be donated to the Arizona Humane Society.

Each entrant will go home with a 2018 Charity Car Show dash plaque. The top five money makers will each be awarded an engraved remembrance.

 The show, an annual event, is sponsored by Arizona Mini Owners, a cheerful group of newer and vintage Mini Cooper owners.

Expected at the event are a large number of Mini Coopers and a number of PT Cruisers. Several vintage Triumphs and Austin Healeys will also be there, as will an authentic London taxi. Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler lovers will be happy to see vintage, classic and modified cars and trucks on exhibit, too.

In past years, some of the shows entries have been unusual. Children caught up with the idea of raising money for charity have even entered their Tonka trucks and midget race cars. Other unusual entries have included bicycles and motorcycle trikes.

So if you have a vehicle you’d like to enter, big or little, no matter how many tires, you can get more information at www.mesamarket.com. There is a $5. entry fee ($10. after August 25.)

Shirley Blahak will also embroider several sofa pillows to be raffled off to raise additional money for the Arizona Humane Society the day of the event. The pillows will feature tributes to animals, and the difference they make in our lives.

Attendees will also enjoy being entertained by Blue Electric Entertainment. They’ll spin platters from the 50’s through today’s music.

The event is free to the public (except for donations made to the Arizona Humane Society). Parking and admission is always free at the Mesa Market Place.

The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mesa Market Place is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Signal Butte & Hwy 60. 10550 E. Baseline Rd.  Mesa.  480.380.5572. www.mesamarket.com.  100% Handicap accessible.

Shirley Blahak: 480-985-2531, email: shirleyblahak@gmail.com

Joan Wells: 602-703-7682, email: joan@mesamarket.com

Frank Luke, Jr. Day at Mesa Market Place.
A FREE event. Saturday, September 22, from 9am to Noon

Arizona native Frank Luke, Jr. lost his life 100 years ago flying his Spad Biplane over Germany in World War I. He quickly became an ace pilot. What he accomplished in his short flying career was nothing short of amazing. He was known as the balloon-buster…. those balloons were used by the Germans to surveil the location of Allied troops. They were not easy to shoot down, yet he doggedly shot down 14 German balloons. He also shot down four German airplanes.

So this is the year to come together to remember his indomitable spirit.

Col. Bill Simon (Ret.) and his wife Sandi have long been collecting Frank Luke, Jr. memorabilia and other World War I era militaria. They are working toward opening a permanent display and museum. They will bring out some of their extensive collection to Mesa Market Place in addition to several military vehicles from WWII. He’ll also bring a Spad Trainer.

A number of other collectors from the AHMTA, Arizona Historic Military Transport Association and the AMVCC, Arizona Military Vehicles Collectors Club will also bring out military restored museum quality vehicles and equipment.

Mesa Market Place will also host a Remembrance at 11am. The Motorcycle Color Guard of America will present the Colors.

Children and adults are also invited to write notes and color pictures to go into ‘Packages From Home’ care packages that will be sent to Armed Forces personnel serving in the Middle East.

Mesa Market Place will be back on Winter High Season Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Mesa Market Place is located at 10550 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209, at exit 193 Signal Butte Rd. and Hwy 60.

Info: 480-380-5572 and www.mesamarket.com. Fully handicapped accessible. Free Parking, admission, and entertainment.

Additional displays and militaria are welcomed! If you would like to participate in this event, please contact Joan Wells 602-703-7682, joan@mesamarket.com.

                                                                                                         The public and all service people are invited to participate in Mesa Market Place Swap Meet’s Beirut Barracks Bombings Remembrance at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 20. The POW MIA KIA Honor Guard will officiate and lead the remembrance.

The event is free, and will take place in the Main Food Court in the middle of the second row: Row B.

Before and after the remembrance, adults and children are invited to write notes and color pictures to go into ‘Packages From Home’ care packages headed to service people serving in the Middle East.

Here is some background information about the Beirut Barracks Bombings.  On October 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War, two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces—members of the Multinational Force (MNF) in Lebanon—killing 299 American and French servicemen.

In the attack on the building serving as a barracks for the 1st Battalion 8th Marines (Battalion Landing Team – BLT 1/8), the death toll was 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers, along with 60 Americans injured, representing the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since World War II’s Battle of Iwo Jima, the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States military since the first day of the Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive, and the deadliest single attack on Americans overseas since World War II.

The Mesa Market Place is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is at 10550 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209, at exit 193 Signal Butte Rd. and Hwy 60. Info: 480-380-5572 and www.mesamarket.com. Fully handicapped accessible. Free Parking, admission, and entertainment.

Saturday, October 27, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: A free family event: Safe Haven Trick or Treating at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet!

Bring all your ghosts and goblins in costume and let then trick or treat their way through 1600 booths starting at the Food Court! Trick or Treaters will each get a trick or treat bag and will enjoy contests, surprises and treats throughout the day.

We’ll also have face painters here to make your costumes complete!

Entertainer Teddie Morrow and his wife, Tina, will be in the Food Court creating fun for Trick or Treaters and parents, alike. They’ll deliver music, dancing, free goody bags, contests from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Merchants join in the festivities, too, by offering up candy, treats, and toys! “We have 900 merchants stocking 1600 shop spaces! I think this is the biggest daylight ‘Trick or Treat’ event in the state of Arizona,” said Joan Wells, Market Place event organizer.

Both young people and their parents are also invited to color pictures and write notes to be included in Care Packages destined to go to Armed Forces personnel stationed in the Middle East. Packages From Home (www.packagesfromhome.org) sends out thousands of Care Packages annually, and insists that each package has a handwritten note or colored picture inside. Each artist and note-writer will get an ice cream sandwich.

The Mesa Market Place is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is at 10550 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209, at exit 193 Signal Butte Rd. and Hwy 60. Info: 480-380-5572 and www.mesamarket.com. Fully handicapped accessible. Free parking, admission, and entertainment.

Veterans Day Remembrance, Saturday, November 10, at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet

The public is invited to attend a Veterans Day Remembrance at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet Saturday, November 10 at 11:30 a.m. The Motorcycle Color Guard of America will begin the remembrance by presenting the American flag, and will also honor veterans in the audience by presenting flags for the five branches of the Armed Forces.

The Patriot Youth Corps will remember those who gave their lives by performing the Salt Ceremony.

Author Nancy Fassbender will also speak on the lives of our local Pinal County veterans, and the service they provided to the U.S.A. She wrote the book, My Fallen Hero, about Pinal County veterans who died in combat. She will also have a table at the event and will autograph books she sells.

Before and after the remembrance, adults and children are invited to write notes and color pictures to go into ‘Packages From Home’ care packages.

The Mesa Market Place is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is at 10550 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209, at exit 193 Signal Butte Rd. and Hwy 60. Info: 480-380-5572 and www.mesamarket.com. Fully handicapped accessible. Free Parking, admission, and entertainment.