In its continuing effort to always honor and commemorate Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community veterans and their dedication to serving and securing our country, the SRPMIC hosted a Veterans Memorial groundbreaking ceremony in Lehi on September 5. 

The early morning sun shined down on all the guests in attendance, who included the SRPMIC Tribal Council, Community veterans, Community members, department staff and many more. SRPMIC Veterans Coordinator Amanda White served as the emcee and greeted guests as they entered the Lehi Cemetery grounds.

“I’m honored to share some of our bird songs with you,” began Lehi resident Lynwood Vest as he and members of the Birds Singing and Dancing by the River group sang a song about warriors/veterans returning home. “In our way, when a warrior had to take a life in performance of his duty, he walked apart from the other warriors,” explained Vest. “While [separated] from the other warriors in the desert, he fasted for a few days, prayed about it and sweated it all out.”

Following the singing, SRPMIC Vice-President Ricardo Leonard provided the invocation.

“I’m glad that this [memorial] is going to be built. I want our veterans to know [that they] can choose to be buried here and know that [the] grave will be taken care of and honored during every military holiday,” said Vice-President Leonard, adding, “I pray that we do not fill this memorial too fast.” 

After the invocation, SRPMIC President Martin Harvier addressed the guests and provided positive words about the new memorial. “A lot of times, we get up, get dressed, get in our cars and do whatever we’re going to do,” began Harvier. “Those freedoms we have are because our veterans took time out of their lives to serve our country to allow [us all to enjoy] the freedoms that we have here,” he shared. 

Aaron Allan, principal landscape architect at J2 Engineering and Environmental Design, also visited the podium and thanked SRPMIC for allowing his organization to be involved. “My dad just turned 84, and he served 23 years in the Air Force. With the implementation of this project, we hope families and friends can come here to grieve, heal, and to find joy and celebrate lives well lived. It is an honor; we are humbled to be a part of his project.” 

Construction of the memorial is expected to be completed by early summer 2025.

Lehi Community resident and U.S. Navy veteran Robert Aguilar recalled the origins of the project. “This started two years ago. It was about seven of us that got together in the Lehi Community Center. During our talks, we thought it was a good idea to build a memorial,” said Aguilar. 

Continuing to honor Lehi veterans, Garnet Gates, a veteran of the U.S. Marines, said a few words about the importance of the memorial. 

“A few years ago, Amanda White and I, we had a talk with [SRPMIC Community Manager] Bryan Meyers to see if this was a possibility, and he said yes,” said Gates. “This [memorial] represents every veteran,” he added.

Later, Gates pointed out the resting place of SRPMIC member Verland French, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in Vietnam. “He spent 20 years in the Navy. He was the first one to be buried here, not knowing it was going to be a veterans’ plot.” During the ceremony, the SRPMIC Veterans Office staff outlined French’s resting plot with a ceremonial black velvet rope, signifying its importance.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dana Allmond (ret.), deputy director for the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, was the final keynote speaker before the ceremonial breaking of the ground. It was Allmond’s first time visiting Lehi. “This is a beautiful spot to have a memorial. I am honored to be here as we celebrate Lehi veterans and their families too,” she stated. 

The turning of the ground ceremony featured three phases so all distinguished guests would have an opportunity to turn the dirt. SRPMIC Tribal Council members, Community veterans, the keynote speakers, and SRPMIC directors, management and guests all were given the opportunity to partake in the ceremony.

Former SRPMIC Council Member Tom Largo Sr. brought the groundbreaking ceremony to a close by providing the benediction: “We know that one day we will stand before you, Lord. And we want to be unafraid and to say to you, Lord, that we did the best we could. To not only serve our country, but more than that, to serve you. We want to fulfill our purpose.”