Our veterans group is going to attend.  It is my first year to do so.  I am told it is a moving experience with American Indian marching units from across the nation.  A B-17 bomber in the past has flown up and down the parade route four times at a low altitude – quite impressive (if it is scheduled this year).  I am looking forward to this event.

  

If you are not familiar with his story, you may get a good summary of his service at:

 

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6350/bios.htm  

  

Here are a  few excerpts from that posting:

 

 iwojimapic_Ira_Hayes

 

Corporal Ira H. Hayes, USMCR
Iwo Jima Flag Raiser

 

“Ira Hamilton Hayes was a Pima Indian, born at Sacaton, Arizona on 12 January 1923, son of Joe E. and Nancy W. Hayes. In 1932, the family moved southward to Bapchule. Both Sacaton and Bapchule are located within the boundaries of the Gila River Indian Reservation in south central Arizona.” 

:

“On 26 August 1942, Ira Hayes enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve at Phoenix for the duration of the National Emergency.” 

:

“… the Arizonan was qualified as a parachutist on 30 November and promoted to private first class the next day. On 2 December, he joined Company B, 3d Parachute Battalion, Divisional Special Troops, 3d Marine Division at Camp Elliott, California, with which he sailed for Noumea, New Caledonia, on 14 March 1943.   

“In April, Hayes' unit was redesignated Company K, 3d Parachute battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. In October, Hayes sailed for Vella Lavella, arriving on the 14th. Here, he took part in the campaign and occupation of that island until 3 December when he moved north to Bougainville, arriving on the 4th. The campaign there was already underway but the parachutists had a full share of fighting before they left on 15 January 1944.”   

:

“In September, Hayes sailed with his company for Hawaii for more training. He sailed from Hawaii in January en route to Iwo Jima where he landed on D-Day (19 February 1945) and remained during the fighting until 26 march.” 

:

“Corporal Hayes was awarded a Letter of Commendation with Commendation Ribbon by the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, Lieutenant General Roy S. Geiger, for his "meritorious and efficient performance of duty while serving with a Marine infantry battalion during operations against the enemy on Bella Lavella and Bouganville, British Solomon Islands, from 15 August to 15 December 1943 and on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 27 March 1945."

:

“Corporal Hayes was awarded the following decorations and medals:

The Commendation Ribbon with 'V' combat device;
Presidential Unit Citation with one star (for Iwo Jima);
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars

(for Vella Lavella, Bougainville, Consolidation of the Northern Solomons and Iwo Jima);
American Campaign medal; and,
the World War II Victory Medal.

The former Marine died at Bapchule on 24 January 1955. He was buried on 2 February 1955 at Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 34, Plot 479A”

  

This celebration of an American Hero is open to the public.  You don’t have to be a veteran to honor this fellow American with your presence.   

  

 

http://www.thegoldweb.com/voices/irahayes.htm  

 

“Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post 84 on the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, is again commemorating the Iwo Jima Landing and Flag Raising event and cordially invites everyone to attend on February 23 and 24, 2007.” 

http://forums.grunt.com/forums/t/26742.aspx   

Sacaton is south of Phoenix about half an hour toward Florence on SR-87.