TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords kicks off a busy weekend Friday by joining more than 300 motorcycle-riding veterans who will escort the remains of 58 American veterans from Tucson to Sierra Vista.
Giffords will be part of a motorcycle escort accompanying the veterans’ flag-draped caskets to their final resting place at the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.
The soldiers died between the mid-1860s and the late 1880s, and were originally buried in what is now downtown Tucson.
The escort will depart from All Faiths Cemetery in Tucson at noon, following a blessing by Bishop Gerald Kicanas. The escort is expected to arrive at the cemetery in Sierra Vista at about 2:30 pm. On Saturday, Giffords will attend a relocation ceremony for the soldiers.
Giffords also will deliver two commencement addresses this weekend: at St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson on Saturday night and at Scripps College in Claremont, Calif. on Sunday. Giffords graduated from Scripps in 1993.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and VFW motorcycle riders escort the remains of American veterans from Tucson to Sierra Vista
WHEN: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Friday, May 15
WHERE: Begin at All Faiths Cemetery, 2151 S. Avenida los Reyes in Tucson, ends at Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords attends the Historical Soldiers’ Relocation Ceremony
WHEN: 10 a.m.-Noon, Saturday, May 16
WHERE: Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords delivers the commencement address at St. Gregory College Preparatory School
WHEN: 7-9 p.m., Saturday, May 16
WHERE: 3231 N. Craycroft, Tucson
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords delivers the commencement address at Scripps College
WHEN: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday, May 17
WHERE: Scripps College, 1030 Columbia Ave., Claremont, Calif.