Phoenix va employee honored at 17th annual patriotic awards luncheon | va phoenix health care | veterans affairs

Maximo Flores, an Environmental Service Technician at the Phoenix VA Health Care System was recognized as one of two VA Outstanding Employees during the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame

Society’s 17th Annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon, April 19, 2024. The other VA Outstanding Employee Recognition award was awarded to Amanda McCauley from the Northern Arizona VA Health Care

System.  The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (AVHOFS) was formed in 2007 to focus on supporting Arizona Veterans. Members of the Society are those Veterans who are selected for and

approved by the Governor for induction into the Hall of Fame. The mission of the Society is to preserve and perpetuate the traditions of the American military and all who served in it, to

undertake charitable and other projects at the state and local levels, to work with Veteran organizations in the attainment of Society objectives, and to promote and encourage responsible

citizenship among all Americans. The Society is an advocate for a variety of patriotic Veteran causes and participates in several programs and projects to achieve these objectives. Starting

in 2023, the AVHOFS initiated a new program to provide recognition to an outstanding VA employee at each of the three VA Medical Centers in Arizona and will annually select an employee who

demonstrates the VA’s ICARE Values and outstanding support and advocacy for the Veterans they serve. Maximo, a native of Glendale, Ariz. was raised in El Mirage, Ariz. He attended Dysart

High School and joined the U.S. Marine Corps after he graduated in 1979. During his Active-Duty career (1979-1984), he served in Infantry Logistics, and saw boots on the ground service

during Grenada. Maximo came from a military family of Marines which included his son Maximo A. Flores Jr., who was killed during an air refueling accident in Iwakuni, Japan, December 6,

2018. After service Flores dedicated himself to the concrete industry working across the U.S. and Mexico working on multiple nationwide projects including the repair and renovation of a

water treatment plant in Deer Valley, Ariz. He also attended Apollo College in 1992 earning his certification as a Medical Assistant. Flores is also an avid artist, whose artwork has won him

recognition in local VA competitions and most recently has advanced him to the national level for competition. Flores began his career with VA in 2020 under the Compensated Work Therapy

program in the grounds department. Today, he helps keeps Phoenix VA grounds beautiful for our nation’s heroes.  Flores is known for his willingness to be a team player, frequently taking on

additional tasks and going above and beyond the call of duty. In addition to his hobby as an artist, he loves dancing, cooking authentic Mexican food and spending time with his service dog

Sumo, whom he attributes his livelihood. The Phoenix VA Health Care System would like to extend our congratulations to Maximo for receiving this prestigious award.