Ira H. Hayes Memorial, Sacaton, Arizona

 Ira Hayes is Pima.  During WWII he served as a Marine on Iwo Jima.  He was one of the Marines who helped raise the flag on top of Mount Suribachi.  Iwo Jima was a hard fought battle and the Americans finally came out on to.  Hayes is in the picture taken by John Rosenthal of the event.  He was one of the six who raised the flag.  Three would later be killed on Iwo Jima.  Hayes. suffered from PTSD and fell into alcoholism which contributed to his death.  He is buried in Arlington with full honors.  He is portrayed by himself in a movie, and by others on a couple of occasions.  A popular Johnny Cash song is the ballad of Ira Hayes.

Mathew B Juan served in WWI and was the first person from Arizona to die in the war.  He died at the Battle of Catigny.  The Americans were attacking the German position and Juan was killed by a machine gun.  He too was part of the Pima people.  Initially buried in France his mother asked that his remains be returned home which he was after the war.  He is buried with honors in Sacaton.

The memorial is in Sacaton which is part of the Pima Community.  When we went there is was locked (Easter Sunday). so my pictures are from a distance.  A statue of Ira Hayes stands in front of a bronze relief statue of the Rosenthal photo.  The Rosenthal photo is also the inspiration for the Marine Memorial in Arlington.

Memorial to Matthew B Juan

Memorial to Ira H Hayes

Mathew B Juan served in WWI and was the first person from Arizona to die in the war.  He died at the battle of Catigny.  He too was part of the Pima people.

This is a mural kitty corner from the memorial and depicts earth structures and Native Americans in the sky.

 

Mining History in Superior, Arizona

 The rest area in Superior was out of order with a note to visit the park across the street, US 60 Park and Caboose Visitors Center.  This park had a mine replica and lots of old mining equipment in addition to the normal playground.  

the visitors center in the caboose but we were there before it opened

Tonto National Monument: Upper Ruins

 After hiking to the lower ruins, Sheri and I were wiped out.  The upper ruins are twice as far, and the elevation gain is twice as much.  No way we could have made that.  The upper ruins are only available with a tour, and the tours were all booked.  That saved us.  We did the lower ruins, and went to a lookout for the higher ruins.

This picture borrowed from internet, Brittanica

Tonto National Monument: Lower Ruins

 The trail up was pretty rough for us old people, but it was well worth it.  The views of saguaro and ocotillo was nice.  The Salado People not only lived in the cliffs dwellings but also closer to the valley where they raised crops.  There was a spring about a mile away which supplied water.

the deep communal space

mortar

mortar and pestle

a wall with the sun behind

holes for placing poles to hold ceiling.  Upon the poles they would place the ribs of the saguaro for their roof

the hallway which allowed people to access the rear of the cav ern without going over everyone

extension

extension.  The extensions were not as well preserved as they were more exposed

They gathered

and they raised, beans squash corn

They had a large trade network, even with people from Mexico