Maricopans in Sacaton’s Ira Hayes parade, flag-raising (GALLERY)

By Michelle Chance

Members of Maricopa veteran organizations participated in Sacaton’s 72^nd anniversary of the Iwo Jima flag-raising events Saturday.

During the Ira Hayes Parade that preceded the event, Maricopa Police Department Explorers marched holding military service flags ahead of the local American Legion and VFW posts.

Maricopa resident and VFW member Wallace Brown served in World War II as a fighter pilot and was also recognized during the parade.

Ira Hayes Parade

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Event organizer Oscar Urrea estimated over 1,000 people attended the event.

Urrea, who is a member of the American Legion Post in Sacaton, also estimated members from at least 30 Native American tribes as well as 500 veterans lined the streets to honor the anniversary of the historic World War II flag-raising on Iwo Jima.

Every year the event draws large crowds to the small community, which was the birthplace of Ira Hayes, one of the flag-raisers captured in an iconic photo by Joe Rosenthal.

After the parade, veterans packed the Mathew B. Juan – Ira H. Hayes Veterans Memorial Park. Some traveled across state lines, and many came from the Valley.

Jim Carlisle moved to Scottsdale from Scotland four years ago. Before moving to the United States, he served in the Royal Scots Army.

“All memorials are very important,” Carlisle said.  “They teach young people what their fathers and forefathers have done to make this country what it is today.”