arizona
Tribal Flags Taken Down at Phoenix VA Hospital Following New Federal Policy
The flags representing Arizona’s 22 tribal nations have been removed from the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix. They have been transferred to the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community for safekeeping.
Ricardo Leonard, vice president of the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community, expressed his astonishment at the decision. “I was surprised and appalled when the staff of the Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital dropped off all 22 Arizona Tribal Nation flags, explaining that they could no longer display them,” he stated.
This removal took place on March 18, as reported by the SRPMIC’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. Leonard, a U.S. Army veteran, characterized the action as disrespectful, noting, “Not only is this nonsensical, but it dishonors all Native American veterans and their families who have given so much to protect this country.”
The timing of this decision coincides with the U.S. Department of Defense removing online resources about the Navajo Code Talkers, who played a crucial role in World War II. Leonard is now urging Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to reinstate the display of tribal flags in the Phoenix VA hospital and emphasize the military contributions of tribal nations.
Arizona houses one of the largest Native voting populations, with over 305,000 eligible voters, according to the National Congress of American Indians. Indigenous people constitute about 6% of the state’s overall population.
The flag removals stem from a new policy implemented by the Department of Veterans Affairs aimed at standardizing flag displays across all VA facilities. This policy restricts the flags allowed to be displayed, permitting only the U.S. flag, state flags, military service flags, and various official flags of U.S. agencies and initiatives.
“This policy will bring consistency and simplicity to the display of flags throughout the department,” Secretary Collins noted in a press release. He emphasized that all veterans and VA beneficiaries will continue to receive the services they deserve. The new guidelines reflect long-standing Department of Defense protocols.
