Welcome to our ceremony. Welcome to our honored guests.
Welcome
Arizona Rangers.
My
special thanks to Wells Fargo Bank, without whose assistance this day
would not have been possible.
My
very special thanks to Doris Soares, the widow of an Arizona Ranger, for
all of her assistance and support.
Nine
years ago today, a terrible thing happened. Sergeant John W. Thomas, a
fine Arizona Ranger, gave his life while supporting his fellow citizens.
As
you look about at the flags displayed here, our United States flag takes
prominence. All Arizona Rangers wear a United States flag on our
uniforms, showing our pride in that symbol. We are accustomed to
swearing our allegiance to this flag and the great nation that it
represents. You will also note the Arizona State flag.
One
hundred years ago, when the Arizona Rangers were born, Arizona was a
territory, not a state. The Arizona flag did not exist, and we were not
a part of the great United States of America.
Beginning
with 14 men, eventually reaching a strength of 26, the Territorial
Arizona Rangers rode hard and fought hard, cleaning up the territory
until, in 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of our
wonderful nation. At that time, our treasured Arizona flag came into
being.
In
less than eight years, the Territorial Arizona Rangers did their job. In
total, as men drifted in and out of the rugged Arizona Rangers
lifestyle, 107 Arizona Rangers helped assure that the State of Arizona
would be birthed.
In
our 100 years of service to our citizens, only three Arizona Rangers
were killed in the line of duty. Ranger Carlos Tafolla was the first,
killed in a gunfight in the White Mountains, during our first months of
existence. Sergeant Jeff Kidder was the second, murdered in Naco, Sonora
when he had been called in from the field to reenlist.
The
third is the reason we are here today. Sergeant John W. Thomas, a modern
Arizona Ranger, was murdered in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Why was he
murdered, why did he become only the third Arizona Ranger in a hundred
years to be killed in action?
Sergeant
Thomas, like his predecessors, was slain as he performed his duties. He
was in the act of supporting his community when he gave his life. In the
last hundred years, thousands of Arizona Rangers have served. There are
times when they faced danger, be it overt or covert. Since 1908, only
John Thomas gave his life. It could have been any of us… a sobering
thought.
No
one could applaud his death, no matter the nobility of its cause. All of
us can, however, celebrate his life. Sergeant John Thomas – we admire
you. We honor your memory, and in doing so, dedicate this plaque in your
memory.
Today,
the Arizona flag is displayed proudly. It temporarily covers the plaque
that we dedicate in memory of our fallen comrade. This flag shall be
provided to the Arizona Rangers Museum, in memory of this occasion.
John
Thomas: you exemplify the Arizona Rangers’ motto: “Few but Proud,
Then and Now.”
That
concludes our ceremony. Thank you for your attendance.
July
21, 2001
Mike Dennis
Captain, Commanding
Sierra Vista Company
Sierra
Vista Company
