Gov. Katie Hobbs joined service members, veterans and their families Monday at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
This Memorial Day, the keynote speaker was Army veteran Diana Pike. Her son, Christian, served in the Navy and was killed in 2013 after sustaining wounds in Afghanistan.
His mother says his heroism in combat saved lives.
"Christian continued returning fire when someone yelled, 'Pike is down.' Christian’s early warning to his team prevented any other lost casualties that day," Pike said.
She presented an American flag that was with her son’s belongings when he passed away.
Hobbs spoke in honor of fallen service members and credited the country’s armed forces for protecting the basic principles and values of the United States.
“I encourage all Arizonans to reflect on the sacrifices made by these heroic men and women as well as the impact left on so many families across the nation,” Hobbs said.
The ceremony ended with a rendition of "God Bless America."
