Brighten Your Day

Every Veterans Day At 11:11 AM, The Sun Shines Through This Monument. What It Reveals Is Breathtaking

November 11, 2015

At precisely 11:11 a.m. each Veterans Day (Nov. 11), the sun’s rays pass through the ellipses of the five Armed Services pillars to form a perfect solar spotlight over a mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States.

Credit: Mike Spinelli

The Anthem Veterans Memorial, located in Anthem, Arizona, is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of United States armed forces. It is a place of reflection and honor for veterans and their families and friends.

Photograph via Anthem Community Council

The memorial was designed by Anthem resident Renee Palmer-Jones. The five marble pillars represent the five branches of the United States military. They are staggered in size (from 17 ft to 6 ft) and ordered in accordance with the Department of Defense prescribed precedence, ranging from the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard.

Photograph via Anthem Community Council

Photograph via Anthem Community Council

Photograph via Anthem Community Council

Additionally, the brick pavers within the Circle of Honor are inscribed with the names of over 750 U.S. servicemen and women, symbolizing the ‘support’ for the Armed Forces. The pavers are red, the pillars are white, and the sky is blue to represent America’s flag. The circle represents an unbreakable border.

Anthem resident and chief engineer, Jim Martin was responsible for aligning the memorial accurately with the sun.

Photograph via Mike Spinelli

Credit: Twisted Sifter