Pavers with flags
Overview of plaza
Jim Bundschuh (left) and John Fuhrmann
Arizona Sons of the American Revolution led in PebbleCreek by homeowner Matt Scott (first from left) gather around a cannon owned by PebbleCreek resident Todd Smith (front), after PebbleCreek’s commemoration of Armed Forces Day.
Pat Ingalls
A costumed color guard, a tee shirt toss and a cannon boom punctuated PebbleCreek’s commemoration of Armed Forces Day. About 100 people gathered at Armed Forces Plaza at Eagle’s Nest May 20 at 8:30 a.m. to demonstrate their appreciation for all who serve their country in the military.
Activities Office staff planned the event, which included remarks by a guest speaker, retired Air Force Colonel John Fuhrmann. “During World War II, 12 percent of the U.S. population had family members who have served in the military, compared to less than one percent today,” Fuhrmann, a PebbleCreek resident, told the audience.
“Our challenge is to understand what service members go through and to maintain the support they need,” Fuhrmann said. “It is up to every one of us to do what we can to never forget, to vigorously support and to pledge our trust to those men and women who are serving, who have served and to their families and friends who wait.”
Arizona Sons of the American Revolution, a group of six clad in 1776-style costumes, ceremoniously presented and retired the American, state of Arizona and military service flags.
John Kiekbusch, HOA Board president, tossed tee shirts, designed with military emblems, at random to former military members in the audience.
Other program participants were retired Air Force Colonel James Bundschuh as Master of Ceremonies; HOA Board member and retired Air Force Major Gregg Clymer, who led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pat Ingalls, who sang the National Anthem and led a group sing-along of God Bless America. Bundschuh, Clymer and Fuhrmann all donned their military uniforms for the event.
The program ended with a bang, literally, when resident Todd Smith shot his Civil War era cannon.
Before and after the program, Food & Beverage staff offered a specially priced breakfast at Eagle’s Nest Restaurant. Diners paused to view a display that homeowner Jim Snider created, honoring residents who have served their country.
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps days. The single day celebration, celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May, stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department—the Department of Defense.
On Memorial Day 2016, residents honored individual veterans and active-duty personnel special to them by placing 48 flags on the pavers bearing their loved ones’ names at PebbleCreek’s Armed Forces Plaza located next to Eagle’s Nest Clubhouse. No ceremony or publicized request initiated their impromptu displays — simply their personal expressions of appreciation. For more information about the plaza and about ordering engraved pavers, which are installed quarterly, visit the Activities Office.