![\"Zev.png\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20250909-103503-bd1-Zev.png.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Sun City Poms recently took home first place in the Specialty and Performance Groups category for their performance in the Honoring America\u2019s Veterans Veterans Day Parade, Phoenix. The theme for this year\u2019s parade was America, Our Guiding Light.<\/p>\n
There were 11 total awards handed out at the ceremony. The top two finishers were invited, but weren\u2019t told if they had won until the official announcement.<\/p>\n
Poms President Sherry Cantrell said she expected them to be awarded first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cKathy does such a wonderful job each year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kathy Villa, marching director, takes great pride in what the Poms do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe truly work hard,\u201d she said. \u201cWe practice hard. Not only do we have to learn the routine, we have to learn the precision of the movements, the timing of the song.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said they first started learning the routine inside before taking to the streets, where they put it all together. The whole process started months ago, well before the parade. This year, they marched to \u201cGod Bless America.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The parade is 2.5 miles long, and the Poms marched the entire length. Villa said everyone was sweating by the end, but that it was all worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe smiles are intoxicating,\u201d she said. \u201cEverywhere you look, it seems to be an incredibly enjoyable experience for everybody there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chrys Main, Poms member, said she had an unusual experience at this year\u2019s parade because she got to lead the group, marching up front.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they announced us and we turned that corner, the energy and applause was absolutely amazing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was so inspirational. I felt like a really famous celebrity.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that it was humbling for her to be at the front and get to experience that kind of welcome and applause.<\/p>\n
Cantrell said this is something the Poms always look forward to. They have been marching in this parade since the early 2000s, and plan to march for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a group, it\u2019s our way of celebrating patriotism and, probably more importantly, it\u2019s our way of honoring our veterans and showing appreciation for those who have served,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Please submit comments at yourvalley.net\/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Zev Black can be reached at zblack@iniusa.org.<\/p>\n
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Zev Black
| Reporter | | Sun City\/Carefree<\/p>\n