Posted on 02/23/2007 6:19:05 PM PST by SandRat
PHOENIX — Part of the lawn in front of the Arizona Capitol became a Fort Huachuca annex Thursday.
High-tech equipment and displays of the post’s missions were part of Fort Huachuca Day at the Legislature, a project that was in the planning stages for nearly a year. State Senate President Tim Bee said it is time for the legislators to understand there is an important military post in Arizona besides Luke Air Force Base, which in the past has always received a great deal of attention by lawmakers.
“My goal is to highlight Fort Huachuca,” said Bee, a Republican whose Senate District 30 includes part of Cochise County.
It was an idea he and state Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-District 30, had last year.
Although Paton was not at the Thursday event, he will be returning to the Legislature Tuesday to be sworn in, said Republican Speaker of the House Jim Weiers.
Paton, an Army Reserve intelligence officer, returned this week to Arizona after being deployed to Iraq, Weiers said.
The speaker, Bee and other legislators from both state chambers walked around the displays to see the equipment used on the fort.
Nearly ever major unit from the intelligence, communications and test and development communities was represented. The Intelligence Center, the Network Technology Enterprise Command, the 11th Signal Brigade, the Electronic Proving Ground, the Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Test Directorate and the Joint Interoperability Test Command had a presence.
Some of the legislators didn’t know the fort has airmen, sailors and Marines stationed on the fort.
State Sen. Marsha Arzberger, a Democrat who represents District 25, which includes part of Cochise County, said it is important to provide information to legislators to help them understand the fort’s importance.
The post is a major economic engine in the state, not just for the communities around the installation, she said.
Fort officials estimate the post’s presence provides $2 billion a year to the state’s economy.
“Anytime you can put something in front of a (legislator’s) face it helps,” Arzberger said.
Displays weren’t all that was available. There also were demonstrations, such as combative training, a function of teaching soldiers self-defense.
A number of school groups touring the Legislature enjoyed watching the combative training.
Those in uniform were almost treated like rock stars, especially by students from a Phoenix elementary school. The students wanted were signatures by soldiers, Marines and others. One child wanted his T-shirt signed.
Fort officials also provided some pomp and circumstance to the opening sessions of the Senate and House.
Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Harry Rausch prayed in both chambers.
The Fort Huachuca Select Honor Guard presented the colors — the American, Arizona and Army flags — on the floor of the Senate and House, as a small contingent of musicians from the post’s 36th U.S. Army Band played the National Anthem. The musicians also performed on the Capitol lawn.
At each separate ceremony, the pledge of allegiance was recited, led by a senator or representative.
In the morning Senate ceremony, the gallery was full, mostly with schoolchildren. In unison, they loudly said the words of the pledge with their hands over their hearts. Perhaps the loudest part of the pledge was when they said the words “under God.”
On the House floor, representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines were introduced by Rep. Marian McClure, R-District 30, to a long standing ovation. When the applause ended, a representative said it wasn’t enough and the representatives and visitors rose and applauded again.
While military, civilian and contract representatives from the post were present, civilian support groups, such as the Fort Huachuca 50, also attended. The support group provided funds for food, which was available to anyone who wanted to partake.
Rep. Jennifer Burns, a Republican whose District 25 includes part of Cochise County, said the importance of the fort cannot be taken for granted — both the economic impact and the national defense aspect.
As for legislators who have no knowledge of the fort, Thursday gave them a small view of the fort and its missions, she said.
“What a jewel,” Burns said of the post.
What the fort showed Thursday will be expanded on in March, Burns added. On March 9, legislators are being invited to come to the post to see what actually happens.
A static one of an unmanned aerial system was on display Thursday, and those who visit the fort will get to see the pilotless planes fly, Burns said.
The training of the soldiers will also be part of live demonstrations, she added.
While the present and future are critical for the legislators to understand, so is the past.
Burns read a resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the House, declaring 2007 the year of the Buffalo Soldier.
Early this year, fort officials declared this year as a time to honor the black soldiers of a segregated Army. Many black units from after the Civil War through World War II had a connection to the fort.
The history of the Buffalo Soldier also was displayed on the Capitol lawn.
What the legislators saw Thursday “was just a snapshot of the fort,” Burns said.
For Col. Timothy Quinn the day went well.
“We’re very happy as soldiers and staff to have the day. It was a great opportunity for us to show the uniqueness and importance of the fort in the State of Arizona,” said Quinn who is the Intelligence Center and fort’s chief of staff.
Looking forward to March 9, the colonel said he hopes many legislators will come to the post.
“It will give them a deeper understanding of what we do,” Quinn said.
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
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