The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation will present the Fiesta Bowl Parade this Saturday, Dec. 28, in Phoenix.

Families of the 19 fallen Yarnell Hill firefighters will serve as Grand Marshals for the 43rd annual Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade “We are honored to have the Yarnell Hill families lead this year’s Fiesta Bowl Parade,” Fiesta Bowl Board Chairman Brian Hall said. “Their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers are Arizona heroes who will never be forgotten. We hope everyone in the Valley will come together at the parade and show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by these families.”

The fallen firefighters were members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, part of the Prescott Fire Department. They died on June 30 while battling the 2,000-acre Yarnell Hill fire that ignited south of Prescott.

“Our husbands, fathers, sons and brothers were heroes to us long before this tragedy,” the Granite Mountain Hotshots families said in a statement.

“It is events like this and people like you, Fiesta Bowl organization, which allow us to tell the stories and celebrate the lives of extraordinary men that sacrificed every day.”

In the five months since the tragedy, numerous charities have been established to provide support for the firefighters’ families. Those interested in making a contribution should visit www.prescottffcharities.org.

Honoring and supporting police, fire and U.S. military service personnel is a tradition for the Fiesta Bowl organization.

In December 2001, the Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade included New York City firefighters and police officers to salute their heroic efforts on September 11.

The organization also frequently donates bowl game tickets to active service personnel and firefighters, and it has invited the Yarnell Hill families to attend the 25th Annual Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on the night of the parade.

“Thank you for not only recognizing the ultimate sacrifice that our brothers made, but thank you for recognizing the sacrifice it takes at home from our families,” the Prescott Fire Department said in a statement.

“These are Hotshot families that have sacrificed many hours to allow them to do their jobs. On behalf of the City of Prescott and the citizens we serve, thank you for your support and the opportunity to be a part of the Fiesta Bowl.”

The parade’s annual theme, “Spirit of the Southwest,” honors the essence of Arizona’s breathtaking desert landscapes and unique cultural heritage. The parade is free to the public, but reserved seating is available for $25 through the Fiesta Bowl Ticket Office at 480-350-0911 or by visiting www.fiestabowl.org.