Flags representing the 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona are displayed in the rotunda of the Executive Tower. Gov. Katie Hobbs is housing the flags, which were removed from the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in central Phoenix because of a new flag policy implemented by President Donald Trump's Department of Veterans Affairs. Photo courtesy Arizona Governor's Office
Following the abrupt removal of the flags representing Arizona’s 22 tribal nations from the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in central Phoenix, Gov. Katie Hobbs is displaying the flags in the Executive Tower at the State Capitol.
“Arizona is proud of the Tribal Veterans who sacrificed for their country,” Hobbs said in a press release. “We should be recognizing their service, not disrespecting their heritage.”
The flags were entrusted to Hobbs by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community after they were removed on March 18 and dropped off with the tribe by staff from the Phoenix VA Hospital.
“It’s my honor to display these flags at the Executive Tower, and I am grateful to all the Tribal leaders who have entrusted me with this responsibility,” Hobbs added in her written statement. “I will always support our Veterans, and vow to keep these flags safe until they can be returned to their rightful place at the VA hospital.”
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Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Martin Harvier said that the tribe is grateful they had the opportunity to receive the tribal flags and have them for a short time.
“We are thankful Governor Hobbs has agreed to take the flags to display them at the Arizona Capitol, a more prominent and appropriate place for them to be located,” he said.
Several Arizona tribal nations and state officials called the removal disrespectful for all Indigenous people who served in the U.S. military and all the veterans who seek help from the Phoenix VA.
Sherry Cordova, chairwoman of the Cocopah Tribe, said the Veterans Administration’s removal of the tribal flags was both insulting and disrespectful to all members of Arizona’s 22 tribal nations.
Cordova said even though the Cocopah Tribe is small, they have a large number of people who serve in the military, but they are being disrespected by the very country they defended.
“Our contribution to this country is/were great, now it seems we are being erased,” she said in a statement. “We are citizens of this nation and we should be recognized for the service of our proud men and women.”
Indigenous people across the United States serve in the armed forces at five times the national average, according to the National Indian Council on Aging, and have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years.
Arizona has one of the largest Native American populations in the country, including a high number living on tribal lands, according to the U.S. Census. Indigenous people make up 6% of Arizona’s overall population.
The removal of the flags was the result of a new flag policy implemented by the Department of Veterans Affairs that limits the display of flags at VA facilities.
“The policy is intended to establish consistency across the department and aligns with longstanding Department of Defense guidelines,” the VA stated in a news release. The policy applies to all VA facilities, including offices, government vehicles, medical centers, common areas and parking lots.
The only flags allowed to be displayed include the U.S. flag, flags of U.S. states and territories, military service flags, VA flags and official flags of U.S. agencies.
And flags representing prisoners of war/missing in action (POW/MIA), Senior Executive Service (SES), military command units and burial flags for honoring Veterans and reservists are permitted.
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