Father Kino, a Jesuit priest, is immortalized by an equestrian statue on the plaza's west side entrance. He established San Xavier mission near Tucson and missions throughout the Pimeria Alta region of the southwest.
"In memory of Arizona Crime Victims. May we always hear and honor their voices."
Dedicated by the
Maricopa County Attorney's Office
Richard M. Romley
Maricopa County Attorney
April 23, 2002
The anchor from the USS Arizona at the east end of the plaza was dedicated on December 7, 1976. It was one of two anchors used by the USS Arizona and weighs almost 10 tons.
The USS Arizona is best known for her sinking during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This attack resulted in loss of over 2300 lives (1,177 on this ship) and led to the U.S. entering World War II. The wreck was not salvaged and continues to lie at the floor of the harbor. It is the site of a memorial to those who perished on that day.
Inside the Capitol Museum an area is set aside to honor the USS Arizona.
The Arizona Korean War Memorial has bronze plaques containing the names of the 280 Arizonans who gave their lives in the Korean War.
The Vietnam Veterans' Memorial consists of ten columns of black granite etched with the names of Arizonans killed or missing in action. A bronze sculpture entitled "The Fallen Warrior" by Jasper D'Ambrosi portrays young soldiers as war's victims as much as its heroes.
The 11 foot statue of an Arizona Peace Officer dominates the center of the plaza. His head is bowed paying homage to all the Arizona law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The names of these officers are etched in the statue base.
This monument honors all law enforcement canines killed in the line of duty in Arizona.
The Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Association erected this memorial under the authority of Senate Bill 1213 introduced by Senator Jim Waring and signed by Governor Janet Napolitano in April 2004.
Father Braun was a missionary and teacher to the Mescalero Apaches in New Mexico and other Indian tribes of Arizona, as well as to the now demolished Golden Gate Barrio of Phoenix, Arizona.
He also served as an Army Chaplain in World War I, received the Purple Heart and was nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross. He served in the regular army during World War II and spent three years as a POW. He received the Legion of Merit and the Silver Star. In later years he received the Arizona Medal of Honor and the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame award.
Father Braun built Sacred Heart Church in Phoenix and was a teacher at St Mary's High School. He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those with the most need.
"Before 1875 hundreds of heroic women came to Arizona from the East and South. From this group came Arizona's first school teachers and the publisher of the first newspaper.
In 1876 a group of pioneer women and their families came from the North, ferried their covered wagons across the Colorado River. With indomitable bravery and strength they helped make the desert blossom into a green oasis. Their descendants pioneered in many settlements throughout Arizona. They displayed great courage and self-denial which is the rich heritage of their posterity."
