SAVCO Appoints John Martinez as New Vice President

SEDONA, AZ – The Sedona Area Veteran and Community Outreach (SAVCO) is set to host its annual Christmas celebration dinner at Juniper Bar & Grille, located at Sedona Golf Resort, on Thursday, December 12, starting at 6 p.m.

This festive event will also mark the distribution of proceeds from SAVCO’s annual golf tournament held in September. A total of $8,000 will benefit various nonprofit organizations, ensuring significant community support. Key allocations include $2,000 for the Hope House of Sedona, $2,000 for Project Fill the Need in the Village of Oak Creek, $1,500 for Verde Valley Sanctuary, and smaller amounts for the Scorpion Booster Club, Red Rock Trail Fund, and Wheel Fun.

During the dinner, John Martinez, former vice mayor of Sedona, will assume the role of vice president on the SAVCO board. Martinez, who has a strong commitment to community service, expressed his motivations saying, “I do this in honor of my dad, because he was in the Navy during World War II.” He has also facilitated the traveling Vietnam Wall’s display in Sedona twice, emphasizing his support for military initiatives.

Martinez replaces co-vice presidents Mark Cary, who has dedicated recent years to delivering aid to Ukraine as a retired U.S. Marine, and Sam Skaggs, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. Although surprised by his nomination without a military background, he emphasizes his dedication to supporting veterans.

Jack Ross, president of SAVCO, highlighted the organization’s inclusive nature, stating, “We always billed SAVCO as an organization that is not just for veterans. It’s for civilians, too, that think like us and want to help the community.” Martinez’s new position represents a rare instance of a non-military member assuming such a prominent role within the organization.

One of Martinez’s primary goals will be increasing SAVCO’s membership. He encourages all who value the contributions of military and first responders to join and support these efforts. SAVCO undertakes numerous community activities, such as the installation and removal of American flags along State Route 89A on holidays, organizing a Memorial Day Ceremony, and aiding local veterans.

SAVCO also sponsors the local branch of Toys for Tots, a program that typically requires a military-associated organization for local sponsorship. Local coordinator Angela Thomas emphasized SAVCO’s integral role, saying, “We couldn’t do any of this without SAVCO.” Interested volunteers can find donation and volunteer information online at sedonaaz.toysfortots.org.

For those wishing to RSVP for the SAVCO Christmas dinner, Michelle Cary can be contacted at ml_cary@yahoo.com or (760) 532-6032.