Col. John Nelson, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) commander, delivered the keynote address at the dedication ceremony of Arizona’s first Gold Star Memorial Byway Sign on Nov. 7, 2024.

YPG Chaplain (Major) Ryan Pearse led the ceremony and invocation.

The marker, placed by the Yuma Orchid and African Violet Society, is part of a long tradition of American garden clubs honoring families who lost a service member in a war that dates back to World War II. About 100 spectators attended the dedication ceremony of the sign at Yuma’s Foothills Community Park.

“Since I first arrived in Yuma in June of last year, I have found the Yuma community to be the most military-supportive of any community I have ever encountered,” Nelson said in his speech. “What’s even more impressive to me are the people who attend this ceremony to commemorate this event. Availability means a lot, and I have seen Yuma County show up time and time again for military personnel and their families.

Nearly 3,000 soldiers from Arizona have been killed in action since statehood in 1912; More than half of them are II. It was in World War II. 390 Arizonans were lost in Vietnam, including Sgt. The first casualty of Yuma District, which gave its name to YPG’s Weapons Operations Center, is Bravie Soto. Nelson mentioned Soto’s service in his speech.

“His service and sacrifice have continued to inspire everyone who has worked in that building since it opened nearly 30 years ago,” he said.

More recently, 170 Arizona soldiers were killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Having served nearly 30 years in the military, it has been my bittersweet privilege to know more Gold Star Families than I would personally like to,” Nelson said. “As the commander of the Yuma Proving Ground, which exists primarily to test the equipment Soldiers and Marines use before their lives depend on it, I am proud to know that the efforts of the men and women of the YPG team have maintained this number. even bigger.”