Memorial Day is upon us. What a somber and wonderful opportunity to honor those who gave their all to protect our country. Here in Arizona, on the grounds of our State Capitol, we have dedicated a portion of those grounds as a permanent Memorial to visit, give thanks, and remember the fallen. Memorials are important. They provide an opportunity to honor people, places, and events to preserve our history. Memorials also help us build and maintain a sense of community.
We asked former Arizona Secretary of State and Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett to explain some of the history and monuments established in the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza.
History
The plaza area was often referred to as The Capitol Mall before being named after Governor Wesley Bolin by the Legislature and the Governor shortly after his passing in March 1978.
Some memorials were on the Plaza before it was designated the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza. In 1976, the anchor and masthead from the USS Arizona were placed in the Plaza as a memorial to that ship.
Over 30 memorials are dedicated to individuals, events, and organizations related to the State of Arizona. Here is a link to a self-guided tour map of the Plaza and all its monuments.
How Are Memorial Monuments Chosen?
The process is interesting, and as you might suspect, it is not a process that happens with intention. Ken Bennett has had firsthand experience with the process. He was instrumental in establishing the WWII memorial. Ken tells us that WWII did not have a dedicated memorial. The anchor and masthead of the USS Arizona that was there previously were established as a memorial to the ship, not the war.
Within the Arizona Department of Administration, there was a Capitol Mall Commission. Initially established in 1985, it was dissolved in 2022, and responsibility for memorials now rests with the Legislative Council Mall Commission.
The purpose of the commission is:
- Developing and maintaining a long-range plan for the Governmental Mall.
- Reviewing requests for permission to develop structures or award construction contracts within the Governmental Mall.
- Ensuring consistency with the general plan for new developments.
- Reviewing all planning activities within the Governmental Mall boundaries.
- Publishing an annual report on issues and recommendations.
Once the commission has vetted the monument, the legislature gives its final approval for its placement.
Legislative Governmental Mall Commission membership has a wide range of representation. Advisory members of the committee include House Senators, the President of the Senate, Department Directors, Governor appointees, and more.
Ken says this process is not necessarily quick, and as one might imagine, proposals are often used as a political football.
Memorials To Visit On Memorial Day
Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring those men and women who have died in service to our country’s military. Nine of the over 30 memorials on the Plaza are dedicated to the military.
Consider taking a walk around the Plaza and remember these memorials.
- Navajo Code Talkers. WWII developed a code that the Japanese could not decipher.
- 4th Marine Division. A reserve unit deployed during WWII, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War.
- WWI Veterans Memorial.
- Jewish Veterans Memorial. Honors Arizona Veterans of the Jewish faith who died serving our country.
- Desert Storm War Memorial.
- Korean War Memorial.
- Battle of the Bulge/ Ardennes Veterans Memorial. In Tucson, there is also a memorial to the Veterans who died in this WWII battle.
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
- WWII Memorial. The one Ken Bennett spearheaded. Take some time with this memorial. See if you can find the markers depicting the USS Arizona and USS Missouri ship lengths.
Worth The Visit!
We also contacted Jarrod Riddle, owner of Spirit of Arizona Tours. Jarrod has given and still gives many Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza tours. He tells us a comment he hears regularly from Arizona residents taking the tour, “I didn’t even know this was here”.
While Memorial Day honors those who gave their all to America’s military service, there are many very worthy memorials at the Plaza that are worth learning more about. If you have an hour or two in Phoenix, think about stopping by the Plaza across from the State Capitol. It is worth the visit.
Whether you have been through the Plaza or are going to visit, please email us at info@rosieonthehouse.com and let us know your thoughts.
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Members of the Legislative Council Mall Commission
- The Speaker of the House or the Speaker’s designee, as an advisory member.
- The President of the Senate or the President’s designee, as an advisory member.
- The Governor appoints one member.
- One member of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Mr. Kevin DeMenna, DeMenna and Associates (9/7/2015)
- One member who has experience in land planning or architecture, appointed by the Governor: Ms. Vanessa Hickman (1/16/2017)
- One member of the public, appointed by the President of the Senate, Mrs. Karen Johnson (8/22/2014)
- Two members, one of whom shall have experience in urban planning, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Phoenix: Mr. Don Keuth, Director, Phoenix Community Advisory Committee.
- The Chair of the Historical Advisory Commission established in A.R.S. 41-151.20 or the Chair’s designee.
- The Director of the Department of Administration or the Director’s designee.
- The Chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appoints one member.
- One member who has experience in county planning, appointed by the Chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors:
PODCAST
May 24, 2025
Memorial Day Weekend special about Arizona’s special memorials. The Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza downtown Phoenix is the site of various memorials honoring prominent figures, wars, and events in Arizona history. Included is the USS Arizona Memorial . The plaza features actual war artifacts with the story of how they were obtained. But its the detailed design of these memorials that’s well thought out.
Original Broadcast Archive Page With Expanded Content
