[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, PROTOCOLS.

ON "CRONKITE NEWS," IT USED TO BE A FIREHOUSE, BUT NOW IT'S GETTING A NEW LOOK WITH SOME HELP FROM THE CITY OF PHOENIX.

THAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A NEW STATEWIDE POLL SHOWS THAT 59% OF ARIZONANS OPPOSE LEGISLATIVE BANS ON SCHOOL MASK MANDATES, AND NEARLY 62% OPPOSE GOVERNOR DUCEY'S USE OF FUNDS TO ENTICE THE MASS -- MASK BANS.

>>> TODAY'S COVID REPORT SHOWS 2,222 CASES OF COVID-19.

THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS IS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER TESTS WERE REPORTED THAN IN PREVIOUS DAYS.

THERE ARE ALSO 26 NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES FOR THE DAY.

>>> THIS LATEST COVID SURGE CONTINUES TO DISPROPORTIONATELY EFFECT CHILDREN.

HERE IS DR. JOSH LABAER OF ASU'S BIO-DESIGN INSTITUTE.

>> THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW IN MARICOPA COUNTY ARE THAT ONE IN FOUR NEW CASES OF COVID IS IN A CHILD, SO THE NUMBERS ARE RISING, AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC FOR INFECTION IN THE STATE.

>>> AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES RECOMMENDED AGAIN THAT EVERYONE MASK UP IN PUBLIC SETTINGS.

AND VACCINATIONS ARE KEY, AND, QUOTE, NEARLY EVERY CASE, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH FROM COVID-19 IS NOW PREVENT NL THROUGH VACCINATION.

>>> MOST OF ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TODAY URGED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FLOODING IN COCONINO, APACHE, AND NAVAJO COUNTIES.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE FLOODING IN FLAGSTAFF IN A MOMENT.

>>> NATIONAL NEWS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY RELEASED A PLAN THAT AIMS FOR THE U.S. TO PRODUCE 45% OF ITS ENERGY FROM SOLAR BY 2050.

SOLAR ENERGY CONTRIBUTED LESS THAN 4% OF THE COUNTRY'S ELECTRICITY LAST YEAR.

>>> AND JOB OPENINGS ROSE TO RECORD-HIGH LEVELS IN JULY.

10.9 MILLION JOBS ARE AVAILABLE.

DESPITE THE OPENINGS, THERE WERE ONLY 6.7 MILLION HIRES, WHICH SHOWS THAT MANY POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES ARE STAYING AWAY DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT AMONG OTHER THINGS, COVID AND CHILD CARE AVAILABILITY.

>>> THREE TUCSON AREA MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING AFTER THREATENING TO CONDUCT A QUOTE, CITIZEN'S ARREST OF A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH VAIL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, JOHN CARRUTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU IN THE PAST ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES, NOTHING LIKE THIS, THOUGH.

LET'S GET SOME DETAILS.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?

>> LAST THURSDAY IN RESPONSE TO A REQUIRED QUARANTINE FROM PIMA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, A PARENT BECAME VERY THREATENING BECAUSE THEIR CHILD NEEDED TO BE QUARANTINED.

THAT PARENT POSTED TO A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP OWNER'S WEBSITE, AND PLEADED WITH HIM TO COME HELP, STATING THAT HE WOULD -- WAS WILLING TO GO TO JAIL OVER THIS, SO THE PARENT ARRIVED WITH HIS YOUNG SON IN TOW AND SHORTLY THERE AFTER HE AND TWO OTHER MEN CAME INTO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, AND ONE WAS CARRYING HEAVY DUTY, LAW ENFORCEMENT-LIKE ZIP TIES WITH THE STATEMENT THAT IF THE STUDENT WASN'T ALLOWED TO RESUME REGULAR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE CITIZEN'S ARREST.

>> HOW DID THESE PEOPLE GET ON THE CAMPUS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE BUILDING AFTER THAT.

>> THE FRONT OFFICE IS SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE SCHOOL, AND THE FAST -- FATHER IS ALLOWED ON CAMPUS, BECAUSE HE IS A PARENT.

WHEN THE TWO MEN CAME INTO THE OFFICE, WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WERE CARRYING ZIP TIES, AND THEY WERE DIRECTED TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, AND THAT'S HOW THEY WERE ON CAMPUS.

>> WHAT DID THE PARENT SAY, AND THE OTHER TWO GENTLEMEN TOO, IF THEY WERE INVOLVED -- WHAT WAS SAID TO THE PRINCIPAL?

>> THEY ARE GENERALLY UP SET, AND FELT THAT THE QUARANTINES WERE NOT LEGAL TO ENFORCE THOSE, ALTHOUGH WE ARE UNDER A DIRECT ORDER FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE THOSE ORDERS WHEN THEY DEEM IT NECESSARY, AND THEY WERE EXPRESSING THAT, AND THAT IF THE SCHOOL DIDN'T REVERSE OUR ACTION, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE A CITIZEN'S ARREST, AND THEY JUST KEPT REPEATING THAT.

THE PRINCIPAL DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF REMAINING CALM AND LEVEL THROUGHOUT THE TIME, AND NOT ESCALATING THE SITUATION AT ALL.

SHE ASKED THEM TO LEAVE HER OFFICE, AFTER THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE AN ARREST, AND SHE SAID NO ONE IS GOING TO BE ARRESTED AND ASKED THEM TO LEAVE, SO SHE LEFT AND CONTACTED US, AND WE CONTACTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR POLICE TO ARRIVE.

>> ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES.

THE PRINCIPAL ASKED THEM TO LEAVE ONE MORE TIME, AND AT THAT POINT THEY DID COMPLETE AND LEFT THE OFFICE BEFORE THE POLICE ARRESTED.

>> SO THE ENTIRE INCIDENT, WHAT ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES FROM START TO FINISH?

>> OH, NO, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 25 TO 30 MINUTES >> SO DID THEY USE RAISED VOICES, OR WERE THEY THREATENING IN OTHER MANNERS, OTHER THAN HAVING ZIP TIES?

THE >> THEY WERE EMPHATIC IN THEIR STATEMENTS, BUT PRETTY MEASURED IN THEIR TONE.

ONE INCIDENT WAS CONTAINED IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE SCHOOL, SO THE REST OF THE SCHOOL WAS LARGELY UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.

>> SO THE STUDENT WEREN'T AWARE?

WERE OTHER TEACHERS AWARE?

>> THE LEARNING CONTINUED ON IN THE CLASSES AT SCHOOL THAT DAY BECAUSE OF THE SWIFT ACTIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL AND HER CALM DEMEANOR IN RESPONDING, AND IT REMAINS IN THE FRONT OFFICE.

>> AND NOW ALL THREE OF THESE MEN ARE CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THOSE CHARGED, CONSIDERING WHAT WAS INVOLVED?

>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS WHAT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY WAS -- IS NOT A WAY TO RESOLVE A CONFLICT.

IN FACT, IT IS THE MODEL OF HOW NOT TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE PURSUING EVERY LEGAL AVENUE THAT WE HAVE, SO ENSURE THE ACTIONS OF THESE THREE MEN ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE'RE DOING THAT.

THE TRESPASSING CHARGES ARE A GOOD START, BUT WE FEEL THAT THAT IS NOT THE END OF THIS.

>> SO A GOOD START, BUT MORE IS NEEDED, AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

OUR SCHOOLS -- ESPECIALLY OUR SCHOOLS THAT HOUSE OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN, THEY DESERVE A PLACE THAT IS FREE FROM THIS KIND OF CONFLICT, AND FRANKLY AS ADULTS, WE MUST MODEL HOW TO DO THE HARD WORK OF GETTING ALONG.

WHAT IS SAD TO ME IS THAT DID NOT OCCUR, AND HONORLY THE PARENT CHOSE TO MAKE THAT DISPLAY IN FRONT OF HIS CHILD.

>> WAS THERE A HISTORY WITH THE SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INVOLVING THE PARENT OR THE OTHER TWO MEN INVOLVED HERE?

WAS THERE A PAST?

>> THE FATHER, NOT SO MUCH.

HE HAS BEEN A PARENT AT THE SCHOOL -- I MEAN THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENINGS AT THE SCHOOL, BUT NOTHING TO THIS LEVEL.

THE OTHER TWO MEN THAT CAME WERE INVOLVED IN THE DISRUPTION AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 27TH.

>> THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE BASICALLY SAID WE'RE GOING TO BECOME THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS -- THEY DECIDED THAT THE OLD SCHOOL BOARD WAS OUT, AND THEY ARE IN, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND ONE OF THEM -- THE COFFEE SHOP OWNER HAS KIND OF BEEN THE CENTRAL HUB OF STIRRING THIS UP.

NEITHER OF THE OTHER TWO MEN HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT.

>> JOHN, LAST QUESTION HERE.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT THIS.

REACTION FROM TEACHERS AND PARENTS?

>> I -- PEOPLE ARE -- ARE SHOCKED AT WHAT HAPPENED, AND THE GENERAL RESPONSE IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS WAY OVER THE LINE, AND JUST CANNOT BE TOLERATED.

THERE HAS BEEN AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND THE SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THIS PARTICULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE TOP-PERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, AND THE LEARNING THAT HAPPENS THERE IS TREMENDOUS.

AND WE MUST INDIVIDUALLY LOOK AT OURSELVES, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE TOUGH ISSUES WITHOUT YELLING AND SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, AND SEEKING TO DO THE HARD WORK OF LISTENING WITH THE INTENT TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN LAST THURSDAY, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE PURSUING ALL AVENUES TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, AND AS ADULTS, WE'RE WALKING THAT PATH TO MAKE SURE WHICH ARE MODELING THAT WORK.

>> JOHN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> UP NEXT, PARTS OF FLAGSTAFF ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM MASSIVE MONSOON FLOODING/\.

>>> SUMMER FLOODS IN FLAGSTAFF SWEPT VEHICLES DOWN STREETS AND DAMAGED HOMES MOSTLY IN THE BURN SCAR THAT WAS LEFT BY THE MUSEUM WILDFIRE.

WE SPOKE WITH FLAGSTAFF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, ANDY BERTELSEN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

ANDY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

HOW BAD HAS THE FLOODING BEEN, AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW?

>> IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH SUMMER.

WE HAVE HAD SOME GREAT MONSOONAL RAINS IN TERMS OF MOISTURE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO RECEIVE THAT MOISTURE.

THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HAD WHAT WE CALL HERE LOCALLY AS THE NON-SOONS, IT REALLY HASN'T RAINED MUCH, AND THIS SUMMER, IT HAS, BUT WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS, AND WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS ON A BURN SCAR.

WE HAD THE MUSEUM FIRE TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE STARTED PREPARING FOR POST-FIRING FLOODING IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, AND THIS SUMMER WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE EVENTS, AND EACH OF THOSE EVENTS, THE LAST ONE WE HAD ON AUGUST 17TH, PRODUCED ABOUT 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT AN HOUR.

THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RAIN.

WE HAVE SANDBAGS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

JERSEY BARRIERS ARE BEING USED AS FLOOD-MANAGEMENT DEVICES, AND WE HAVE TRIED TO PREPARE AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT IT HAS BEEN A HECK OF A SUMMER, AND WE HAVE EXPENDED ABOUT $8 MILLION IN CLEANUP AND FLOOD PROTECTION MEASURES.

AND WE JUST CONTINUE TO WORK ON TRYING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM THESE POST-FIRE FLOWS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME AREAS ARE BEING EFFECTED HERE, AND THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO IMMEDIATELY, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE, BECAUSE THESE SAME STREETS ARE GETTING FLOODED WITH WATER.

>> OUR LIMITS HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN PRESSED TO THE FULL LIMITS.

LIKE WE HAVE SAID OUT IN THE FIELD, WE ARE BATTLING AN UNDEFEATED OPPOSE INNOCENT, AND THAT IS MOTHER NATURE.

THE MONSOONAL RAINS HAVE BEEN DIRECT HITS ON THESE BURN SCARS, SO IT'S THE SAME AREA THAT IS IMPACTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND FOLKS ARE EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED.

IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM MITIGATION, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE.

WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT IS GOING TO COME INTO PLAY SOON, AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THERE WILL BE FUNDING TO UTILIZE FOR LONG-TERM STRATEGIES.

>> SO, AGAIN, THE GOAL IS TO REDIRECT THE WATER AND GET IT AWAY FROM THESE STREETS, HOMES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SUCH, BUT WHAT KIND OF TIMETABLE IS INVOLVED HERE?

>> WELL, WATER FINDS THE LOWEST POINT, AND WHEN IT RAINS, IT FLOWS PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT LONGER TERM.

WE HAD THE SCHULTZ FIRE IN 2010.

I WAS INVOLVED IN THAT MITIGATION, AND IN TERMS OF SEEKING AND SECURING FEDERAL FUNDING, TECHNICALLY -- TECHNICALLY DESIGNING PROJECTS THAT WE THINK WILL WORK WITHOUT CAUSING ADVERSE DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS FINANCIALLY, THE COST WILL BE SIGNIFICANT, AND FROM A RISK ANALYSIS STANDPOINT, IT IS WORKING TO PROTECT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT ADVERSELY IMPACTING OTHER AREAS.

AND THE COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING IMPACTED IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WATER SEEKS THE LOWEST POINT, IT WANTS TO FAN OUT, SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

>> YEAH, THESE ARE HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE GETTING HIT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO THEM.

>> SHELTER IN PLACE DURING THE RAIN EVENT.

WE HAVE A CALL CENTER THAT IS ESTABLISHED.

A JOINT INFORMATION COMMAND CENTER.

WE HAVE A TEAM OF ENGINEERS FORCO FORCO FORCO FORCO -- AND IT HAS BEEN ALL HANDS ON DECK.

PEOPLE HAVE CALLED IN FOR A SITE ASSESSMENT, AND THE ENGINEERS WILL SAY WE NEED TO PUT SANDBAGS IN THIS LOCATION, OR WE CAN PUT A JERSEY BARRIER IN THIS LOCATION, AND THEN IT IS COORDINATING WITH OTHER VOLUNTEER EFFORTS TO SAY, CAN YOU ORGANIZE A VOLUNTEER EFFORT TO BUILD A SANDBAG WALL ON THIS PERSON'S PROPERTY?

BECAUSE WE AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND WORKING ON INDIVIDUAL ADDRESSES, THAT BECOMES VERY TRICKY FOR US.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WE TRY TO ORGANIZE THESE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.

>> FLAGSTAFF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, ANDY BERTELSEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ >>> PHOENIX NATIVE ZACH KREISHEIMER SERVED TWO DEPLOYMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN AS A COMBAT MED DICK.

HE IS ALSO A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND OF GARY BIRD.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT THE LOSS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHEN YOU WERE THERE?

>> BETWEEN 2011, AND 2012.

>> AND WHAT WAS YOUR POSITION?

>> I WAS A COMBAT MEDIC.

>> AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU WERE PRINCIPLE RIGHT AROUND KANDAHAR.

>> YES.

>> LET'S JUMP AHEAD TO WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WITH THE -- THE EVACUATIONS NOW HAVING BEEN COMPLETED, AT LEAST THIS PHASE OF THEM.

WERE YOU AS SURPRISED AS MANY OTHERS WERE WITH HOW QUICKLY AFGHANISTAN FELL TO THE TALIBAN?

>> I WISH I COULD SAY YES, BUT NOT PARTICULARLY.

I GUARANTEE ABOUT 80, 85% OF THE VETERANS THAT SERVED THERE WOULD HAVE SAID IT WOULD FALL TO THE TALIBAN.

>> DO YOU THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING BY BEING THERE FOR 20 YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND WHAT WAS THAT?

>> WE DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER 9/11.

AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND THEY DON'T TAKE EVERYTHING WE DID OVER THERE WAS A FAILURE.

I TAKE PRIDE IN THAT, AND I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD AS WELL.

>> AND ALL OF US WERE EFFECTED BY 9/11, BUT YOU HAVE A PARTICULARLY PERSONAL CONNECTION TO 9/11.

>> YES.

>> ONE OF YOUR CLASSMATES LOST HIS FATHER.

>> YES, BY CLASSMATE ANDREW BIRD, HIS FATHER WAS IN THE TOWERS AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY ON 9/11.

AND I GREW UP IN A SMALL CATHOLIC SCHOOL, SO IT WAS A VERY CLOSE KNIT GROUP OF PEOPLE, SO IT EFFECTED THE COMMUNITY EXTREMELY HARD, AND I WATCHED IT EFFECT THE FAMILY EXTREMELY HARD AS WELL.

>> AND YOU GREW UP IN TEMPE?

>>Y.

>> WAS 9/11 THE REASON YOU JOINED THE SERVICE?

>> I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A PROGRESSION.

MY GRAND PARENTS WERE IN THE MILITARY.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN WORLD WAR II IN KOREA.

MY OTHER GRANDFATHER SERVED IN THE NAVY, BUT THE EVENTS OF 9/11 DEFINITELY SPARKED MY INTEREST.

I JOINED JROTC MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT EXCELLED MY WANT AND DRIVE TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY.

>> SO YOU WERE A MEDIC FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THERE?

>> YES.

>> WHAT STOOD OUT THE MOST FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES?

>> PROBABLY THE PEOPLE.

A SMALL PORTION OF THAT IS THE TALIBAN.

IT'S A LARGE COUNTRY, AND THE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO LIVE THEIR LIVES NORMALLY, AND GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS, AND -- IT WAS DIFFICULT SEEING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SEE AS A MEDIC, AS ANYBODY HAS TO, BUT CONNECTING WITH THE PEOPLE, I'LL ALWAYS CHERISH THAT.

>> AND IS THAT PART OF WHAT -- THINKING BACK ABOUT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET OUT?

>> YEAH, YOU THINK OF THE AMERICANS THERE.

YOU THINK OF OUR ALLIES, BUT WE ALSO HAD VILLAGE ELDERS THAT WERE GIVING US INFORMATION ON IED'S SO WE COULD GO FIND THEM SO THEY COULD LIVE SAFELY.

THEY WOULD MARK THEM FOR US AT NIGHTTIME BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHERE THEY WERE, AND THE TALIBAN TOLD THEM DON'T GO OVER THERE, AND THOSE ARE ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING, AND THEY RISKED THAT LIVES TO SAVE US, AND IT'S HARD TO WATCH.

>> YOUR TIME THERE SCARRED YOU.

>> VERY MUCH.

>> HOW SO?

>> PTSD.

NOT NECESSARILY A PARTICULAR EVENT, BUT JUST AN ACCUMULATION OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENED OVER THERE.

AND I HAD MY FATHER PASS AWAY AT A YOUNG AGE, BUT PTSD WAS -- I HAD SUFFERED WITH DRAMATICALLY UNTIL 2019 WHEN I REACHED OUT FOR HELP, AND SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN ON A MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> AND THERE IS A PARTICULAR GROUP YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH?

>> YES, VETERANS OF AMERICA.

WE HAVE 450,000 MEMBERS.

THEY ARE A GROUP I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THE PAST THREE, FOUR YEARS NOW.

I HAVE GONE TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH THEM, WHERE WE MET WITH OVER 120 SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN TO LOOK AT HELPING US PASS BILLS AND REFORMS TO INCREASE VETERAN'S BENEFITS AND OTHER THINGS TO HELP VETERANS IN NEED.

>> WE ARE -- WILL SOON MARK -- I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORLD CELEBRATE -- WE WILL SOON MARK THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.

>> UH-HUH.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> MAN, I WISH I COULD SAY SOMETHING THAT -- WE'RE SAFER, OR WE DID A GREAT JOB OVER THERE, BUT CLEARLY BY THE EVENTS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, IT'S HARD TO SAY WE'RE SAFER OR ANYTHING, BUT I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES ON THAT DAY, AND REALLY REMEMBER THEM.

BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT 20 YEARS WITHOUT FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, JUST REALLY COMMEMORATE AND CELEBRATE THEIR LIVES.

IT'S 20 YEARS, AND IT'S A VERY LONG TIME, BUT I'LL ALWAYS -- IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS SINCE I LOST MY FATHER.

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS SMILE, AND THAT'S HOW I CELEBRATE IT EVERY YEAR.

>> ZACH KREISHEIMER THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK BACK AT HOW THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACK WORLD SERIES RUN PROVIDED A RESPITE OF SORTS FROM THE TRAUMA OF 9/11.