Pima’s memorial
flagpole rededicated
Published on Sunday, May 8, 2011 9:57 PM MST
By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Eastern Arizona Courier
Freedom isn't free. Today, as in the past, Americans continue to stand against tyranny, and some pay the ultimate sacrifice so others' freedoms will be preserved.
To honor its veterans and remind the youth of the sacrifices made to ensure their way of life, the town of Pima and the Pima school districts teamed up to replace the Heritage Park flagpole.
The new flagpole was rededicated during a stirring ceremony Wednesday that was attended by World War II veterans, Pima and Discovery Plus Academy students and others.
World War II veterans assist in raising the flag at the Heritage Park flagpole rededication Wednesday. The flagpole is part of a memorial for 27 men from Pima who died in WWII. Photo by Jon Johnson
The flagpole is part of a monument that honors 27 men from Pima who fought in WWII. According to the original driving force behind the flagpole's replacement, C.B. Fletcher, Pima lost more residents per capita in WWII than any other municipality in the United States.
America's bloodiest war was its Civil War, during which it suffered about 625,000 casualties (about 2 percent of its population.) Americans accounted for 405,399 casualties in WWII, and that relates to about .3 of a percent of the country's population. According to census numbers from 1940, Pima's 27 casualties took 5 percent of its population.
Retired United States Marine Sergeant and multiple Purple Heart recipient Larry "Digger" O'Dell gave a stirring patriotic speech during the ceremony and described how, from the country's initial inception during the Revolutionary War, Americans fought for freedom.
"While we sit here today under this flag, we are able to do so because men and women have given their lives to make certain that this flag never touches the ground," O'Dell said. "(They) make certain this flag never surrenders or dips to an earthly king. And on this memorial, we can see the names of 27 young men who, in spirit, hold up this flag and ensure that we are able to enjoy liberty and freedom."
Fletcher told the crowd he initiated the project to educate the area's youth of Pima's sacrifice. Jhett Judd took the organizational lead for the fund-raiser to replace the flagpole as his Eagle Scout project, and the students of Pima and Discovery Plus Academy raised the necessary funds of about $2,400. A large portion of the money was raised through the school's "penny's for the pole" project, which collected various denominations of cash, including 23,220 pennies from Pima Elementary School.
"It's just been a majestic project," Fletcher said.
Some of the activities at the rededication ceremony included a flag-raising by WWII veterans, musical numbers by students and others, an Honor Guard 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps."
O'Dell addressed the youth in the audience and said they would be the ones who would be responsible to remember and recognize the sacrifices made by those before them.
"You are the people that will be the leaders of America," O'Dell said. "You will be the ones that ensure that this flag will always be there and that we will always honor these men and these women (who) gave us these privileges of enjoying this great country. Thank you for your efforts, and may God bless America."
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