
Raúl Grijalva dies, Piestwa Fallen Heroes Memorial, Government Cuts
Season 2025 Episode 49 | 23m 20sVideo has Closed Captions
Rep. Raúl Grijalva dies. Piestewa Fallen Heroes Memorial. Federal workforce cuts.
Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva has died. The Piestewa Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony is done at Piestewa Peak on March 23 each year. What do these federal workforce cuts mean to our everyday lives?
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

Raúl Grijalva dies, Piestwa Fallen Heroes Memorial, Government Cuts
Season 2025 Episode 49 | 23m 20sVideo has Closed Captions
Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva has died. The Piestewa Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony is done at Piestewa Peak on March 23 each year. What do these federal workforce cuts mean to our everyday lives?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipCOMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN RAÚL GRIJALVA, WHO DIED TODAY A THE AGE OF 77.
ALSO AHEAD: THE IMPACT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS TO MASSIVELY RESTRUCTURE STAFF AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION... AND, DETAILS ON THE ANNUAL PIESTEWA FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL CEREMONY.
THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.
GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.
I'M TED SIMONS.
LONGTIME ARIZONA.
CONGRESSMAN RAUL GRIJALVA HAS DIED.
HE DIED THIS MORNING AT THE AGE OF 77.
HE'D BEEN UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENTS AFTER ANNOUNCING HIS DIAGNOSIS IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
GRIJALVA, A DEMOCRAT, WAS THE SON OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS AND A VETERAN OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA POLITICS BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 2002.
HE WOUND UP BEING ELECTED TO 12 TERMS IN THE HOUSE AND HAD RISEN TO CHAIR THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, WHERE HE WAS AN OUT-SPOKEN CHAMPION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
GRIJALVA WAS ALSO A PROPONENT OF IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, EXPANDED HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RAUL GRIJALVA.
IN JUST A MOMENT.
ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES IS ONCE AGAIN INVOLVED WITH A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUM ADMINISTRATION.
MAYES TODAY JOINED A MULTI-STAT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS TO LAY OFF CLOSE TO HALF OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WORKFORCE.
MAYES, ALONG WITH 20 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL, MOSTLY DEMOCRATS, CLAIM THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE SUCH MASS FIRINGS AND THAT THE LAY-OFFS WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT STATE SCHOOLS A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY ORDERED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATE RE-INSTATE THOUSANDS EMPLOYEES AT FEDERAL AGENCIES.
THE ORDER FOCUSES ON PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ON THE JOB LESS THAN A YEA AND FIRED LAST MONTH AS PART OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO CUT THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE.
THE JUDGE RULED THAT THE EMPLOYEES WERE IMPROPERLY TERMINATED AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE LAY-OFFS WERE, QUOTE, " SHAM."
AS WE MENTIONED, ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN RAÚL GRIJALVA DIED TODAY OF COMPLICATIONS FROM CANCER TREATMENTS.
HE WAS 77.
GRIJALVA WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ARIZONA HISTORY AND LEFT A SIGNIFICANT LEGACY.
HERE NOW TO HELP LOOK BACK AT GRIJALVA'S LIFE AND LEGACY, RON HANSEN, WHO COVERS NATIONAL POLITICS FOR THE THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND AZ CENTRAL.
A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY ORDERED OF RECORD, GOOD TO -- RON, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
YOU'VE COVERED FOR MANY YEARS AS A CONGRESSPERSON -- THIS IS KIND OF A SHOCK, BUT NOT A SURPRISE, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
I THINK CONGRESSMAN GRIJALVA HAD BEEN IN POOR HEALTH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, BUT IT'S STILL SURPRISING TO HEAR SOMEBODY THAT YOU'VE DEALT WITH SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS IS NO LONGER WITH US.
IT'S A SAD DAY FOR SURE, BUT I THINK WE ALL SORT OF FELT THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TEND TO WELL.
>> A SITTING MEMBER OF CONGRESS, AS WELL, BUT MISSED A LOT OF VOTES HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
>> YEAH.
HE SHOWED UP ON THE FIRST DAY OF THIS CONGRESS TO VOTE ON BEING PRESENT, AND THEN VOTING ON HOUSE LEADERSHIP, AND BASICALLY HAS MISSED EVERY VOTE AFTERWARDS.
>> HIS ROOTS, TUCSON, PIMA COUNTY, SOME PRETTY ROUGH AND TUMBLE POLITICS DOWN THERE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH, GRIJALVA'S SORT OF ENTIRE LIFE WAS WRAPPED NEW POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
HIS FATHER CAME FROM MEXICO TO AMERICA AND RAUL WAS SORT OF A PRODUCT IN THE SENSE OF THAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN SO PICKED APART OVER THE YEARS.
HE WAS RADICALIZED IN A SENSE A DISCIPLE OF THE CESAR CHAVEZ MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1970s.
HE WAS SOMEONE WHO GOT INVOLVED IN LOCAL EDUCATIONAL POLITICS IN PIMA COUNTY AND LATER WITH THE PIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND THEN WORKED HIS WAY INTO CONGRESS.
>> WORKED HIS WAY INTO CONGRESS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, HE NEVER LOST A CONGRESSIONAL RACE, DID HE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HIS DISTRICT WAS ALWAYS DRAWN FAVORABLY FOR DEMOCRATS.
HE WON THE NOMINATION IN 2002 AND REALLY NEVER LOOKED BACK.
HE ONLY HAD TWO COMPETITIVISH KIND OF RACES, AND IN BOTH CASES IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS OWN SORT OF MISSTEPS THAT LED TO THAT.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE QUICKLY HERE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS -- I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER THIS, THE IDEA OF CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT IN ARIZONA BACK FOR SB710, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HE STOOD APART EVEN FROM A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS IN ARIZONA TODAY, BOTH IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IN WASHINGTON.
>> DID HE REGRET THAT DECISION LATER ON?
>> DID HE, AND HE REGRETTED IT AS EARLY AS 2011.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT THAT HE FELT HE HAD NOT LISTENED NEARLY ENOUGH TO HIS CONSTITUENT ON THAT MATTERS HE MADE IN A MORE COMPETITIVE RACE BUT STILL WON COMFORTABLY.
>> AND ALSO FOUR, FIVE, SIX YEARS LATER, ETHICS INVESTIGATION REGARDING, WHAT, HOSTILE WORKPLACE AND OTHER STUFF GOING ON?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
HE HAD A FORMER STAFFER WHO ALLEGED A HOSTILE WORKPLACE RULE THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN.
AND RAUL IN THE ANSWER 80s ACKNOWLEDGED HE HAD A DRINKING PROBLEM AND THAT ELEMENT RETURNED BY THE TIME COMPLAINT, THAT WAS HANDLED BEHIND CLOSE DOORS IN ABOUT 2015.
IT CAME TO PUBLIC LIGHT IN I THINK 2017.
>> AND HE MAINTAINED, THOUGH, DID HE NOTHING WRONG.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> THOSE ARE THE LOW POINTS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HIGH POINTS HERE, ESPECIALLY HIS ACTIVISM WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
BIG PROPONENT, BIG CHAMPION OF WATER RIGHTS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.
>> YEAH.
RAUL WAS VERY PASSION WAIT IN WANTING A POLICY AS IT RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WOULD BE PROTECTIVE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THAT WAS RESPECTFUL OF NATIVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS AN ARCH LIBERAL AT A TIME WHEN THAT WASN'T ALWAYS WHERE THE NATIONAL WINS WERE BLOWING -- NATIONAL WINDS WERE BLOWING BUT HE DIDN'T MOVE OFF OF THOSE SORT OF GUIDING LIGHTS IN HIS CAREER AND STOOD AS A VERY AGGRESSIVELY LIBERAL VOICE IN WASHINGTON FOR NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BUT ALSO ON SCIENCE, EDUCATION, HE WAS A CO-CHAIR OF THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS IN WASHINGTON AS WELL, REALLY SORT OF PUTTING HIMSELF OUT THERE AS SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO ON THE LEFT.
>> AND SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO WHEN IT CAME TO IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS WAS IN SOME WAYS I THINK HIS DEFINING ISSUE IN THE MINDS OF A LOT OF FOLKS.
HE CAUGHT A LOT OF FLAK FOR THE BOYCOTT, BUT I THINK HIS UNDERLYING POINT WAS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CAUSE RACIAL PROFILING.
THIS IS INSENSITIVE TO IMMIGRANTS MORE BROADLY.
THIS AFFECTS LATINOS IN A WAY THAT IS BEYOND JUST BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH A TRAFFIC STOP.
HE HAD THE ENTIRE SORT OF SPECTRUM OF ISSUES IN FRONT OF HIM.
>> WHAT DOES ARIZONA IN GENERAL, SOUTHERN ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR, LOSE KNEW RAUL GRIJALVA NO LONGER REPRESENTS BACK IN WASHINGTON?
>> FIRST OFF, THEY LOSE A VERY SENIOR ELDER IN CONGRESS.
HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE '02 ELECTIONS.
HE IS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY SENIOR IN DEMOCRATIC CIRCLES.
THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS, WITH APPROPRIATIONS, THAT CAN ALSO CREATE PHONE CALLS THAT HAPPEN MORE QUICKLY IF SOMEONE IS A CONSTITUENT, NEEDS HELP, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT IS PERCOLATING, IT JUST TENDS TO WORK MORE QUICKLY IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
SO THEY LOSE THAT.
THEY LOSE SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY BEEN PLUGGED INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IN WASHINGTON.
HE REALLY WAS A GOOD LIAISON BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> AND HIS LEGACY?
>> HIS LEGACY IS THAT HE WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR A DEMOGRAPHIC AT A TIME WHEN THAT DEMOGRAPHIC OF LATINO, AN IMMIGRANT DEMOGRAPHIC REALLY WAS SORT OF CHANGE FORECAST A PRESENCE IN ARIZONA TO A FORCE IN ARIZONA.
HE HELPED BRIDGE THAT ERA, I THINK.
>> ROD HANSON, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, COVERED RAUL GRIJALVA FOR MANY YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> HAPPY TO DO IT.
TODAY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS ORDERED TO IMMEDIATELY RE-INSTATE THOUSAND OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAD BEEN FIRED ACROSS HALF A DOZEN FEDERAL AGENCIES.
THIS AS THE ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY PERSONNEL AND SERVICES.
JOINING US NOW IS DENNIS HOFFMA DIRECTOR OF ASU'S SEIDMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE CUT -- JUST IN GENERAL, BEFORE WE THE GOAL SOCIAL SECURITY.
BUT JUST IN GENERAL, WHAT'S THE IMPACT HERE?
ON EVERY DAY LIVES OF ARIZONAN AS SOON AS.
>> WELL, I'M AN ECONOMIST.
IT DEPENDS.
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO SEPARATE OUT, YOU KNOW, TRIMMING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH MANY PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF, AND THE PROCESS THAT WE USE TO GO DOWN THAT PARTICULAR PATH.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE OUGHTA BE AT -- WE OUGHTA BE ASKING QUESTIONS.
IF THEY END UP CUTTING IN AREAS THAT YOU'VE BEEN USING, BE IT THE WEATHER SERVICE OR THE V.A.
OR, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND THE GRANTS ARE SOMEHOW DISRUPTIVE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CUT IN THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND YOU'RE DOING -- YOU'RE WORKING ON RESEARCH GRANTS, YOU KNOW, IT CAN HAVE IMPACTS EVERYWHERE.
AND WHEN YOU CUT, I'M TOLD, ONE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, YOU CUT TWO PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON GRANTS THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE WORKING ON.
YOU DON'T GO INTO A VERY HIGHLY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT STATE.
>> THE PLAN IS TO CUT 12% OF THE JOBS, 12% OF THE WORKFORCE.
THE FINAL REDUCTION OF THE PLAN IS MAYBE 50% OF THE WORKFORCE THERE.
THAT IS AN EVERY DAY SITUATION FOR A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS.
>> IT IS.
AND I'LL SEE IF I CAN SUMMARIZE THIS VERY BRIEFLY.
AND WE AN EXTENSIVE STUDY TWO YEARS AGO, COMPARING SERVICE DELIVERY, SATISFACTION WITH TWO AGENCIES.
AND THAT IS ASRS AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY.
>> ASRS IS?
>> THE ARIZONA STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
AND THE REASON THIS LABORATORY IS INTERESTING IS NUMBERS OF ASRS AND SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS ARE THE SAME PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T GET ONE OR THE OTHER.
YOU ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN BOTH.
SO YOU CAN COMPARE AND CONTRAST AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW, BUT A WOEFUL LACKING IN THE QUALITY OF SERVICE DELIVERIES FROM SSA.
AND BY THE WAY, KUDOS TO AS SRS THEY HIT REALLY HIGH MARKS.
>> SO IF SERVICE AND DELIVERY WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?
>> EXACTLY.
AND AGAIN, I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE AUDIENCE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CUTTING YOUR BENEFITS.
I THINK THAT REALLY GETS MISUSED.
I'M NOT SAYING -- I'M NOT SAYING I CAN GUARANTEE YOUR BENEFITS, BUT I CAN SAY I'VE LOOKED AT SOCIAL SECURITY ACTUARIAL, IT'S A PAY GO SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT WORKERS LARGELY PAY FOR IT.
I THINK THE BENEFITS ARE SECURE, BUT QUALITY OF SERVICE DELIVERY, I WAITED ON THE PHONE FOR 90 MINUTES WHEN I -- I'M 73, SO I JUST EVEN ROLLED.
>> IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THE PHONE.
BECAUSE ORIGINALLY THE PLAN WAS TO CUT BACK ON PHONE SERVICES AND NOT EVEN HAVE THEM AND THE PUSHBACK WAS SO MUCH THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS OKAY MAYBE WE'LL HOLD OFF A LITTLE BIT ON THIS.
>> IT'S KINDS OF LIKE THE L.A. FREEWAYS, THEY'RE TERRIBLE BUT WHAT'S L.A.
WITHOUT THE FREEWAYS.
>> ELON MUSK ON TUESDAY SUGGESTED THAT HE WANTED TO, QUOTE, ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAID.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A BIG PIE IN THE SKY BUT EVEN TO SAY THAT KIND OF STUFF, THAT'S DISRUPTIVE.
>> WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, SOME REALLY TOUGH STEPS TO MAKE SOME DEEP CUTS, AND WHAT APPARENTLY PEOPLE WANT, AND THAT'S CUTTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT A PLANE -- KIND OF A ROADMAP WITH SOME MILEPOSTS WOULD BE USEFUL.
>> MUSK ALSO COMPARED SOCIAL SECURITY TO A PONZI SCHEME.
>> THAT'S THE PAY GO ELEMENT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, WHEN -- WHEN YOU CONTRIBUTE YOUR MONEY, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTION, IT DOESN'T GO OFF TO WALL STREET OR SOMETHING TO BUILD UP TO BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT.
IT GOES TO THE CURRENT RETIREE SET.
AND SO IT ALWAYS GOES TO PAY -- YOU KNOW, IT COMES IN AND GOES OUT RIGHT AWAY.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO.
>> HE'S REFERRING TO THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, -- >> THE WORRY IS THAT IT QUESTIONS THE SOLVENCY OF THE SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND IN THE MINDS OF MANY RESPONDENTS IN OUR STUDY, THEY'RE WORRYING ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THEIR NEST EGG IN TERMS OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
AND WHEN IT'S LABELED A PONZI SCHEME, YOU KNOW, THOSE WORRIES JUST GO UP.
>> WITH THAT LAST QUESTION HERE, THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY, YOU FOUND, MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, IS THE BETTER OVER ALL THAN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
IS THERE A BEST MODEL PRACTICE THAT THE FEDS CAN LOOK AT IN ARIZONA AND SAY, WE CAN DO THAT?
>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE POINT OF OUR RESEARCH.
AND, YES, THERE ARE SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS THAT ASRS HAVE DONE.
THEY HAD THE SAME CALL VOLUME CHALLENGE ORIGINALLY, AND THEY'VE MET IT VERY, VERY WELL.
THEY'VE EDUCATED THEIR MEMBERS.
THEIR MEMBERS ARE LEARN MORE OFF THE WEB.
THEY EMPOWER THE PEOPLE ANSWERING THE PHONES TO COVER LOTS OF TOPICS, NOT JUST THE REASON THAT THEY CALL.
SO GUESS WHAT, THEY DON'T CALL BACK AGAIN.
>> YEAH.
SO THAT CAN BE DONE ON A FEDERAL LEVEL ABSOLUTELY CAN BE DONE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU JUST DO IT WHEN YOU LEAD WITH, OH, WE'RE GOING TO TRIM THEIR STAFF IN HALF.
YOU NEED TO TRAIN YOUR STAFF.
>> I GOTCH YOU.
BEFORE YOU GO, I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, SO GOTTA BE QUICK, BUT YOU'RE AN ECONOMIST AND I'VE GOT YOU HERE.
TARIFFS.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT?
>> TED, YOU KNOW MY GLOBAL TENDENCIES.
I AM A GLOBALIST.
I'M A GLOBALIST, THE PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION REALLY LIKE TARIFFS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE VAST AMOUNT OF ECONOMICS, TED, THAT YOU CAN DUST OFF ANY TEXTBOOK YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S CONTROVERSY INSIDE ECONOMICS.
I DON'T SEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF CONTROVERSIES AT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO TARIFFS.
THEY ARE BAD.
THEY'RE BAD FOR BOTH COUNTRIES.
>> DENNIS HOFFMAN, OUR GO TO GUY FOR ECONOMY TYPE STUFF, EVEN IF IT'S SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE, TED.
EACH YEAR ON MARCH 23, THE PIESTEWA FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL CEREMONY PAYS TRIBUTE TO LORI PIESTEWA.
THE CEREMONY ALSO HONORS OTHER FALLEN HEROES AND PERSERVES THEIR LEGACY.
JIM COVARRUBIAS IS CHAIRMEN OF THE PIESTEWA FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL, HE'S HERE TO TELL US MORE.
>> THIS IS GOOD STUFF, ISN'T IT >> IT IS GOOD STUFF.
IT'S SAD AT THE SAME TIME.
BECAUSE THIS IS HONORING THE FALLEN HEROES AND MILITARY.
BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT, I THINK, EVENT TO ALLOW THE FAMILIES TO COME AND OVER THE LAST 23 YEARS WHAT WE'VE DONE IS CREATE A FAMILY, A FAMILY WITH GOLD STAR MOTHERS, GOLD STAR FATHERS, GOLD STAR WIVES, THE BLUE STAR FAMILIES, AND SILVER STAR FAMILIES.
>> YES.
THIS IS A SUNRISE EVENT, CORRECT?
>> SUNRISE.
THE EVENT BEGAN BECAUSE OF A WAR -- 2003, IT WAS THE BLOODIEST DAY OF THE WAR, 35 SOLDIERS WERE KILLED THAT DAY.
18 PEOPLE IN HER CONVOY WERE ATTACKED AND TAKEN ACTUALLY LONG TERM.
SO THEY WERE IN BAD TERRITORY, THEY WERE ATTACKED, AND THEY FOUGHT BACK WITH ALL THEY HAD.
OF COURSE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE BIG, YOU KNOW, FIREPOWER.
AND THEY LOST 11 OF THE 18.
LORI WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED AND DIED IN CAPTIVITY THAT DAY.
>> WE ALL THINK LORI PIESTEWA AND KNOW WHO SHE IS BUT SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE NAME.
THIS IS WHO SHE WAS, FIRST DOCUMENTS U.S.
FEMALE CASUALTY OF THE IRAQ WAR AND I THINK THE FIRST KNOWN AMERICAN-INDIAN WOMAN TO DIE IN COMBAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> DESCRIBE THE CEREMONY.
>> THE CEREMONY HAS HER WITH HER FAMILY, HER MOTHER IS HISPANIC AND HER FATHER IS HOPI AND HER HUSBAND WAS NAVAJO.
IT INVOLVED THOSE CULTURES AUTOMATICALLY.
BUT THERE'S ALSO THE INTRIGUE OF WHAT THAT WAS FOR THE PUBLIC, SO THEY BASICALLY EVOLVE FROM THAT.
I THINK THEY WANTED TO DO ONE EVENT WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY.
BUT NOW 22 YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, AND IT'S SORT OF TAKEN A LIFE OF ITS OWN BECAUSE OTHER FAMILY WANTED TO SHARE THE STORIES OF THEIR LOVED ONES WHO DIED IN COMBAT, WHO DIED IN THE MILITARY.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW IT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
>> IT'S CHANGED QUITE A BIT.
THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF WANTING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF PIESTEWA PEAK AT THAT TIME.
IT HAD AN EGREGIOUS NAME THAT HAD A MEANING TO THE AMERICAN CULTURE AND THEY RECEIVED THE BACKING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AND TRIBES, 21 NATIONS IN ARIZONA, AND THEY WERE VERY INVOLVED IN WANTING TO CHANGE THAT NAME.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE SECONDARY MISSIONS FOR THEM.
THE PRIMARY MISSION WAS TO, LIKE I SAY, GO AHEAD AND INVOLVE OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAD HE NO FORUM REALLY TO COME AND SHARE THE STORIES OF THEIR FAMILY.
AND IT HAD BECOME VERY SENTIMENTAL TO THEM AND I THINK REAL STRENGTH TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
>> THESE CEREMONIES, ESPECIALLY THE NATIVE AMERICANS' ACCENTED CEREMONIES, WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO ATTEND?
>> YOU KNOW, IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
WE HAVE EQUALA, THE SECOND OF THE SUPAI MEDICINE MAN, GIVES A SPIRITUAL BLESSING, WE HAVE THE SINGERS WHO ARE TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN DRUM GROUP.
WE HAVE MISS NAVAJO WHO SINGS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN NAVAJO.
WE HAVE HOPI DANCERS AND ALSO HAVE OTHER CULTURES INVOLVED, WE HAVE KEN, A TYCO DRUMMER, JEFF, AND DANINE WHO'S A SINGER.
SO IT'S INVOLVED OTHER PEOPLE NOW WHO HAVE BECOME A PART OF THE FAMILY.
>> WHAT KIND OF REACTION HAS IT HAD OVER THE YEARS?
>> WELL, IT'S AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE GET FROM IT.
THE IDEA OF BEING THERE IN THAT BEAUTIFUL NOUN THAT BEAUTIFUL PARK, AND THE CITY HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB OF RENOVATING IT, WE'RE JUST SO PLEASED TO HAVE IT AND SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AND WE DO GET OCCASIONALLY OTHER PERFORMERS COME IN FROM THE TRIBES AND CHAIRMAN COME IN WHO WANT TO SAY A WORD OR TWO.
THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT GUEST SPEAKERS OF CLARE DICK, WHO'S THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE GOLD STAR WIVES AND AMY DORSAL ALSO OF GOLD STAR WIVES, AND GREAT SPEAKERS AND GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.
>> WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND MORE INFORMATION IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED?
>> WE'RE ON FACEBOOK.
>> OKAY.
>> PIESTEWA FALLS ON FACEBOOK?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND SHARING THIS WITH US.
IT'S AMAZING GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THAT'S 23 YEARS.
>> 23 YEARS.
>> SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
>> HELLO, I'M ALICE FERRIS AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED ARIZONA HORIZON.
FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS VIEWERS IN ARIZONA IS RELIED ON ARIZONA HORIZON FOR IN DEPTH COVERAGE OF ISSUES OF CONCERN TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HOST TED SIMONS HAS LED INSIGHTFUL PUBLIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS RANGE FORECAST STATE POLITICS TO NATIONAL POLICIES.
NOW WE ARE ASKING YOU TO INVEST IN THIS VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT HELPS EACH OF US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE GRAND CANYON STATE.
WHAT SETS ARIZONA HORIZON APART IS THAT UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL NEWSCASTS, ARIZONA HORIZON GOES BEYOND THE HEADLINES AND SOUND BYTES, AND OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, ARIZONA HORIZON HAS PROVIDED KEY RESOURCES TO HELP EDUCATE AND INFORM CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE WITH ELECTION-RELATED PROGRAMMING.
WHETHER THROUGH CANDIDATE DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS, ARIZONA VOTE SPECIALS OR FALL ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, TED SIMONS AND THE ARIZONA HORIZON TEAM ARE A TRUSTED PARTNER YOU CAN COUNT ON.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS BUT ONE THING WE DO KNOW IS WITH YOUR SUPPORT, ARIZONA HORIZON WILL BE HERE WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
BUT COUNTING ON THAT CHANGE HINGES ON YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION.
PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE OR CALL OR TEXT THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN WITH YOUR DONATION.
AND WHEN YOU GIVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL WAYS WE CAN THANK YOU.
HERE'S MORE.
>> NOW IS THE TIME YOU CAN SUPPORT ARIZONA HORIZON.
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MAKE A GENEROUS SUSTAINING GIFT OF $12 OR AN ANNUAL DONATION OF $144, AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH BOTH THE TOTE AND THE ARIZONA HORIZON MUG.
CALL, TEXT OR GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AND DO YOUR PART TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF ARIZONA HORIZON HERE ON THIS STATION.
THANK YOU.
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>> HELLO, I'M BILL MOYERS.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE QUALITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS UPON THE QUALITY OF OUR JOURNALISM.
THAT'S WHY PUBLIC BROADCASTING HAS PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART IN DEMOCRACY OVER THE LAST 50 PLUS YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A PLACE WHERE INDEPENDENT JOURNAL HIGH.
BEEN ABLE WITHOUT CONCERN FOR THE POWERS THAT BE TO TELL WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, TO REPORT WHETHER OR NOT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT, WHETHER IT'S THE NEWS HOUR OR FRONTLINE OR ANY OF THE GREAT DOCUMENTARIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY POV OR INDEPENDENT LENS, WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR JOURNALISM AND DEMOCRACY IS TO SUPPORT THIS STATION.
BECAUSE, REMEMBER, THE PROGRAMS YOU COUNT ON, THE JOURNALISTS YOU COUNT ON COUNTS ON YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO THANK BILL MOYERS FOR THAT SIMPLE REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC MEDIA, FOR STATING SO ELOQUENTLY WHY THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE IS SO VITAL TO THE FABRIC OF DEMOCRACY IN OUR COUNTRY.
I HOPE YOU TAKE HIM UP ON HIS APPEAL FOR SUPPORT.
NOW IS THE TIME, DON'T WAIT.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO SUPPORT THE NEWS YOU NEED AND THE INFORMATION YOU COUNT ON FROM ARIZONA HORIZON.
WHEN YOU DO, YOU'LL BE EMPOWERING TRUTH, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN JOURNALISM AT A TIME WHEN I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY, IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT.
REMEMBER, THE PROGRAMS YOU COUNT ON REALLY DO COUNT ON YOU FOR SUPPORT.
AND THANK YOU.
IF YOU'RE ALREADY A MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR MAKING ARIZONA HORIZON AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PERHAPS CONSIDER MAKING AN ADDITIONAL GIFT TO ARIZONA PBS NOW.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE AND YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL GREAT ABOUT DOING YOUR PART.
JOIN US ONLINE OR REACH OUT TO THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, AND

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