The flags representing Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes were removed from the Carl T Hayden Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Phoenix on March 18, but now they have a new home at the Arizona Capitol rotunda in downtown Phoenix.

 According to a news release by the Department of Veteran Affairs, the flags were originally removed due to a newly implemented policy that is “…intended to establish consistency across the department and aligns with longstanding Department of Defense guidelines.”

In an online exclusive published on March 20, O’odham Action News reported that all 22 flags from the VA facility had been transported to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community temporarily.

On March 25, five days after the SRPMIC agreed to house the flags in the Community, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs made the decision to accept the 22 tribal flags to the Executive Tower Rotunda inside of her office in Phoenix. 

“The Community is grateful that we had the opportunity to receive the tribal flags and to have them for the short time and we are thankful Governor Hobbs has agreed to take the flags to display them at the Arizona Capitol, a more prominent and appropriate place for them to be located,” SRPMIC President Martin Harvier said in a statement at that time.

Recently, on April 8, tribal veterans and leaders met with Hobbs on to see the flags in person and to engage the governor with appreciation.

Hobbs and director of Tribal Affairs at the Arizona Governor’s Office and enrolled Tohono O’odham Nation member Jason Chavez walked around the Capitol rotunda to personally greet each tribal veteran one by one.

“When I learned about the unceremonious removal of the flags from the VA honoring all our tribal members’ service to our country, we wanted to make sure that we could pay honor and tribute and take care of them for you all until they are rightfully returned,” Hobbs told the veterans. “Really happy to have you all here to see them.”

John F. Scott, director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services, told those in attendance that he received the first phone call to pick up the flags from the V.A. on a Saturday. “[They] said, ‘we have an issue and need you to take care of it,’ and I said, ‘Yes ma’am, Roger that. We’re going to make this happen,’ and we made it happen and that’s in support of all of you [Native veterans in the room],” recalled Scott.

Scott mentioned that Native Americans serve five times the rate of non-Natives, which he said, “…truly is a testament to your patriotism and your commitment to serving.”

SRPMIC member Pacer Reina was present for the greeting at the rotunda. When he woke up that morning, he was excited to see the flags after having seen the photos posted online.

Reina told the governor that he received so many texts, emails and phone calls asking about these flags, because they knew [the flags] were in Salt River. He said they expressed their gratitude that Salt River was able to house the flags until they were received at the Capitol.

“When it comes to Arizona, for us [O’odham, Piipaash and other tribes] it’s common knowledge that we were the first Arizona National Guard,” Reina told O’odham Action News. “So, when the flags were removed from the V.A., I felt that blow. I felt that disrespect.”

However, Reina expressed a slight sense of relief knowing that the flags are still in good hands. “Being here and standing with all those veterans, veterans’ representatives, families of veterans and with the governor and their representatives, it seems like some of that respect was returned to us,” he said.

Also at the meeting from the SRPMIC was Vice-President Ricardo Leonard, who has been vocal about his disapproval of the removal of the flags from the V.A. along with former SRPMIC President Delbert Ray and the entire SRPMIC Veterans Representatives Department staff.