Neil Logan, the creator of the Sculpture which is the centerpiece of our Sunup Rotary Club's All Vets Memorial, situated on the west side of the Yavapai County Courthouse, shared with us the background behind it.  The dramatic and realistic Sculpture depics a medic, holding an injured soldier, as he beckons in the MediVac helicoptor to pick them up and to fly them to the nearest medical treatment center.  Neil, a combat veteran himself, told us his brother had been a highly-decorated pilot flying these dangerous missions during the Vietnam War, and had been shot down four times.  To the surprise of many of us, Neil related the enormous political difficulties our local veterans faced in gaining the necessary permission to place the Sculpture on the Courthouse Square.  One behalf of those veterans, he profusely thanked our Rotary club for having made this memorial such an attractive and respectful centerpiece in its current location, and for our work each year in continuing to maintain this memorial.  It was noted that special credit goes to our member John Stewart for his committed leadership of this high priority annual club project.

 

 

Prescott Mayor Phil Goode related to us the background of the bronze memorial placque part of the memorial, which bears the names of all of Prescott's military heroes whose lives have been lost over the years, defending our country and the freedoms we enjoy as the result of their sacrifice.  The placque has been updated once; and he said it will need to be updated again, at some point, to add the names of others who have since lost their lives serving our country.  Phil also told us of the time when he personally shielded the memorial placque with his body when it was about to be defaced by some of the Black Lives Matter demonstrators who invaded Prescott.  

 

 

 

 

Isaiah Spires is always so busy serving us our meals at our meetings, but President Christy was waiting for him on one of his trips into the room.  She had a special birthday hat and glasses ready for him to don, as our club sang "Happy Birthday" to him at last week's meeting.  Great Fun!  We appreciate having Isaiah as an active member of our club, in addition to his making sure we get fed well each week at our meetings.

 

 

 

This year our Sunup Rotary Club awarded three $3,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors from area high schools.  Sienna Judy, from Tri-City College Prep, along with her father Ryan Judy, were our guests at last week's meeting.  Sienna thanked us for her scholarship, and told us she will be attending the University of Arizona, preparing for a career in Nursing.