11/9/2009 10:45:00 PM Veterans Day Activities:
Parade, park rededication top Wednesday's events
Jim Wilhelm/Courtesy photo
Kathy, Jan and Corrine Bowles had just moved to Prescott from Iowa in March 1956 when they visited the Veterans Memorial Island in Prescott. The City of Prescott will rededicate the memorial at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier
Veterans representing the Military Order of the Purple Heart participate in the 2008 Veterans Day parade on the VA grounds in Prescott. This year's parade starts at 11 a.m.
The Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System will honor the area's veterans with a concert and parade, starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Veterans Day.
The concert and parade will follow the rededication of Prescott's Veterans Memorial Island at the intersection of Gurley and Sheldon Streets at 8:30 a.m.
At 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Heritage Memorial Park will sponsor its third annual Veterans Remembrance Day Celebration at the cemetery, 12000 Heritage Memorial Lane, in Dewey.
At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Chino Valley American Legion will play host to a service at the legion hall, East Road 3 South and Highway 89. A light dinner, which is open to all veterans, will follow the gun salute and short ceremony at 5 p.m.
From 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, the Chino Valley Elks will treat veterans to a free breakfast during the Chino Valley Elks Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast at the Chino Valley Senior Citizens Center. For all non-veterans breakfast is $5.
Jim Wilhelm, Bucky O'Neill Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 541 commander, said the City of Prescott originally dedicated Veterans Memorial Island "to the veterans of all United States wars in recognition of their courage and sacrifice in the service of country..." by Mayor Joseph Allen on July 4, 1954.
Wilhelm said the tall obelisk made of cut flagstone, had the plaque inscription and a flagpole. Construction crews removed the symbols so they could improve the road intersection at Prescott's east entrance, he said.
City crews have rebuilt the veterans' portion of the park under the direction of city engineers Mark Netupski and Ian Mattingly.
Wilhelm said the city crews have rebuilt the veterans' area to accept the plaque on a pedestal, with a speaker's podium, bench seats, electricity and lighting.
Mayor-elect Marlin Kuykendall will rededicate the park at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Then, at 8:40 a.m. the Prescott Pursuit Squadron will do a flyover. Bob McBride will release a white dove at the end of the ceremony.
Wilhelm said veterans groups plan to replace the plaque at a later date with a cavalry soldier sculpted by a local artist.
VA PARADE
Ame Callahan, VA public affairs officer, said the pre-parade activities will start at 10 a.m. with a concert by the John Hafer Octet on the grounds at the Bob Stump Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 500 Highway 89, in Prescott.
The parade will follow at 11 a.m. on the center's grounds. The theme for this year's parade is "A Grateful Nation Salutes Women Veterans."
Callahan said about 50 floats and entries will be in the parade.
Some of the highlights of the parade entries, she said, are the Prescott High School Marching Band, the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo Queen and her court, the award winning Marine Corps ROTC Drill Team from Ray High School in Kearny, the Prescott Antique Auto Club.
The parade's grand marshals will be women veterans.
Callahan said the VA Voluntary Service Committee will sponsor a food court with hot dogs, soda, cotton candy, popcorn and other food items.
Admission to the concert and parade is free. People attending should follow the event parking signs to park their vehicles. For more information, call 776-6013.
Remembrance Day
At Heritage Memorial Park, Kipp Perry, cemetery manager, will give opening comments.
The American Legion Post 6 Honor Guard of Prescott will pay tribute to all area veterans with a flag folding presentation.
Hannah Hardell will sing "God Bless the Broken Road," "Star Spangled Banner" and "Amazing Grace" to honor the veterans.
To conclude the ceremony, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10227 and Boy Scout Troops 533 and 57 will release some balloons.
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Article comment by:
Steve C.
Again, we are faced with ugliness in the ongoing pace of "development" here in Prescott. Destroying the monument, cutting our beautiful willow, (what better monument to veterans than a "weeping" willow)
Does anyone in town have a clue how to "do it right?"
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Too bad we don't know about these kinds of destruction before they happen. Can someone answer whether it will be put back into its original condition?
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Article comment by:
R J Retired
And so you have removed probably the finest example of flagstaff masonry on display in Prescott and replaced it with a concrete slab? How ugly. The flagstone monument stood for over 50 years at the entrance to Prescott. It was a beautiful monument to stand there with the Nebeker bronze.
Don't you have people with artistic tastes working for the COP?
Please tell me that the monument is still in one piece somewhere and can be replanted once again in the triangle at some later point.
