Wesley Bolin Plaza, Phoenix, Arizona

The Wesley Bolin Plaza is a part of the Arizona Capitol ground. Bolin is a former governor who was only governor for five months in 1977-1978 (he died in office) after serving twenty-eight years as the Arizona Secretary of State.

As I approached, the first thing I saw was an anchor from the USS Arizona. The memorial has the names of those who died when the Arizona was sunk during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

USS Arizona Anchor Memorial

Right past the anchor is the World War II Memorial, flanked by two battleship guns with a mast from the USS Arizona.

WWII Memorial

The Arizona Fallen Firefighter and Emergency Paramedics Memorial is a large, round space with a lot of names and a variety of statues.

Arizona Fallen Firefighter and Emergency Paramedics Memorial

The Arizona Silent Service Submarine Memorial is quite dramatic. And, apparently, off limits. What's with the fence?

Arizona Silent Service Submarine Memorial

The Arizona Law Enforcement K9 Memorial is dedicated to animals that died in the line of duty.

K9 Memorial

The Arizona Peace Officer Memorial is a striking tribute to law enforcers from a long time ago. He definitely looks like he's from the territorial days.

Arizona Peace Officer Memorial

Side view

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has several stages, including a statue of soldiers, a map of the country, and a memorial listing those from Arizona who died.

Vietnam Soldiers

Map and Memorial

Nearby is the Father Albert Braun O.F.M. Statue. Braun was a missionary in New Mexico and Arizona. He served as a chaplain in World War I and again in World War II. In the Phillipines, he was a prisoner of war for 40 months. He received the Purple Heart and two Silver Stars. He returned to Arizona where he worked with the tribes and with the Hispanic community in Phoenix. The Mescalero Apache tribe wanted to bury his body on their land when he died.

Fr. Albert Braun Statue

The Desert Storm Memorial commemorates a more recent conflict and those who fought in it.

Desert Storm Memorial

Average people are memorialized too! Pioneer women and Arizona Workers both have memorials dedicated to them.

Pioneer Women

Arizona Workers

Across 17th Avenue is the Capitol Building with a few more memorials.

Capitol

Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Memorial Statue is dedicated to the Arizona World War I fighting ace. He had eighteen aerial victories, second only to Eddie Rickenbacker. The bird on his head would not fly away. I guess aviators stick together?

Frank Luke Jr. Memorial

Copies of the Liberty Bell were given to all the states during World War II as a way to inspire people and to raise war bond money. The Arizona bell is proudly on display just in front of the Capitol.

Liberty Bell