The Diocese of Phoenix expressed gratitude to U.S. service members on Veterans Day.with social media posts and a Rosary program. | Diocese of Phoenix

The Diocese of Phoenix on Veterans Day recognized all members of the nation's armed forces with words of appreciation.

The diocese took to social media and presented a Rosary program to express its gratitude to veterans.

"Words cannot express the gratitude we have for all those who have faithfully and courageously served our country," the diocese stated in posts to its Facebook and Twitter pages. "Thank you and may God bless you and your families now and forever."

The Twitter and Facebook posts included a card image from the diocese reading "Happy Veterans Day Honoring All Who Served."

The Diocese also presented a Veterans Day Rosary program on Veterans Day evening at Casa Auditorium Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale.

The Special Rosary Service observance was hosted by Casa Veterans & Rosary Ministry "in thankfulness for our military and those who served and continue to serve," according to the diocese's website. The event was streamed live on its YouTube channel.  

More than 500,000 veterans live in Arizona, almost 11% of the adult population, according to the University of Arizona. Those numbers rank Arizona in the top 15 U.S. states with the highest concentration of veterans, higher than the national figure of 9%. Maricopa has the largest veteran population in the state, the university states on its website.

The Roman Catholic Church also has Archdiocese for the Military Services, based in Washington, D.C., providing spiritual services and care to members of the U.S. armed forces. Established in 1985 by Pope Saint John Paul II, the Archdiocese for the Military Services maintains installations in 29 countries and serves more than 1.8 million people.

On Veterans Day 2021, the Edwin Cardinal O’Brien Pastoral Center received from Knights of Columbus volunteers, some of whom serve in the military, the first of 100,000 copies of the new 6th edition of the Armed with the Faith Catholic prayer book, according to the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Archbishop Timothy Broglio blessed the prayer books, which are to be sent to active-duty U.S. Military personnel around the world.