This summer we had the pleasure of spending over a month in Prescott, AZ, rich in history and a great basecamp from which to explore the surrounding Southwest desert area (Sedona, Jerome, Phoenix, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and more!). Historically, Prescott was the territorial capital of Arizona from 1863 to 1864, another piece of history. After settling into our house-sit in a wonderful home with even more wonderful owners, we started our explorations by visiting the Courthouse Plaza downtown. That setting not only provided us with a walking track - the series of statues located around the surrounding treelined walkway highlighted some of the area's legacy and proud heritage. One favorites for us was the Rough Rider and cowboy statues, depicting the World's Oldest Rodeo which has been running continuously since 1888 in Prescott.
And just across the street from the Courthouse is Historic Whiskey Row. This famous downtown block also once housed over 40 frontier saloons, including The Palace Restaurant & Saloon, Arizona's oldest continuous bar. It's where Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers were said to drink. Not to be outdone, we were honored to sip libations with our house hosts in one of the "speakeasy bars" tucked quietly in the basement of a vintage building.
Back to the courthouse on a more somber note, one of the other statues honors19 of the 20 crew members who lost their lives while battling the fast-moving Yarnell Hill Fire near Yarnell, Arizona, on June 30, 2013 (one lived). It stands as one of the deadliest incidents in wild firefighting history. The 19 fallen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots are inscribed on the front of the statue, with an etching of the saved alligator juniper tree on the rear.
Jer decided to visit the Tribute Center in their honor, which was only a short drive. Little was he prepared for the moving experience as the Central Arizona Pipe and Drum Corps marched through the mall toward the Center, where a crowd was already gathered.
As the band played a series of tribute tunes, a Solemn Silence came across the room as hats were removed, many heads bowed in sorrow, and eyes began to tear.
Local dignitaries paid homage to “The 19” and their families. A common theme among all was to honor these heroes' legacies by serving others, and to commit to focusing on our commonalities instead of our differences.
And then there was the spectacular 250th celebration of the founding of our country on the Fourth of July! Our hosts invited us to watch the parade with their friends downtown - we're so glad that we did! The parade was two hours of smiles, despite the heat. Of course, there were plenty of cowboy hats, veterans, local marching bands, and vintage cars. Much like a multi-patterned quilt, the parade wove together the community's past and present into a festive event that represented and honored many of the contributions that have made this country the land we love and appreciate even more as we continue our explorations!
This sentiment was a recurring theme in town, where one could feel the local pride for the rich history - a real spirit of belonging. A prime example was the sense of community that was evident throughout our stay as the courthouse morning walkers and bench warmers waved and chatted with each other - and us as well - newcomers, but welcomed. A true slice of the best in the USA!
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