History

On behalf of the Office of the Governor and the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS), Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) established the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. Those selected for honor of induction are veterans who have honorably served their country and have continued to serve and inspire their fellow man with deeds and accomplishments throughout their lifetime.

The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame is an extension of the Hall of Fame created by the Arizona Department of the Disabled American Veterans in 1978. In 1998, Unified Arizona Veterans, as a committee with representation open to all veterans’ organizations throughout the state, began formulating its own hall of fame to recognize men and women from all eras, all branches of service, and all walks of life. Following in the footsteps of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, Arizona hopes to add its legacy to the eventual establishment of a National Veterans Hall of Fame.

Oversight of the Hall is provided by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS),  The ADVS includes the Hall and the support network of Inducted Alumni in its many programs throughout the state to benefit Arizona’s veterans and their families. The Veterans Hall of Fame is located at the Arizona State Veterans Home  in Phoenix.

The inaugural induction ceremony, held on May 30, 2001 recognized 26 Medal of Honor recipients with Arizona ties, 13 of those being prior to Statehood in 1912, and 24 other distinguished Arizona veterans. The Class of 2009 brought the number of members in the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame to 203.

A committee of veterans serves as advisors to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame and selects inductees annually from nominations solicited from all veterans’ organizations and citizens of Arizona throughout the year.