Tribal flags removed from Phoenix VA hospital under new federal policy

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The Carl T. Hayden Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Phoenix. Public domain image

The flags of Arizona’s 22 tribal nations have been removed from the Carl. T. Hayden VA Medical Center in central Phoenix and given to the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community for preservation. 

“I was surprised and appalled when the staff of the Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital dropped off all 22 Arizona Tribal Nation flags at our office, explaining that they could no longer display them,” Ricardo Leonard, vice president of the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community, said in a statement. 

The flags were removed on March 18, according to the SRPMIC’s Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.

“Not only is this nonsensical, but it dishonors all Native American veterans and their families who have given so much to protect this country,” Leonard, a U.S. Army veteran, added. 

The move comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Defense deleting websites about the Navajo Code Talkers who were instrumental to America’s victory in the Pacific Theater in World War II.

Leonard is calling on the Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to restore the display of all tribal nation flags at the Phoenix VA hospital, as well as to continue the recognition of tribal nations for their deep commitment to military service.

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“It should be common sense that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs honors the great legacy of Native American veterans of the 22 Tribal Nations in Arizona,” Leonard said in his statement. “It would be a tragedy if the VA chooses not to repost the flags.” 

Indigenous people across the United States serve in the armed forces at five times the national average, according to the National Indian Council on Aging, and have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years.

Arizona has one of the largest Native voting populations in the country, with more than 305,000 of voting age, according to the National Congress of American Indians. Indigenous people make up 6% of Arizona’s overall population.

The removal of the flags comes as part of a new flag policy implemented by the Department of Veteran Affairs that limits the display of flags at VA facilities. 

“The policy is intended to establish consistency across the department and aligns with longstanding Department of Defense guidelines,” the VA stated in a news release. The policy applies to all VA facilities, including offices, government vehicles, medical centers, common areas and parking lots.

The only flags allowed to be displayed include the U.S. flag, flags of U.S. states and territories, military service flags, VA flags and official flags of U.S. agencies. 

And flags representing prisoners of war/missing in action (POW/MIA), Senior Executive Service (SES), military command units and burial flags for honoring Veterans and reservists are permitted.

“All Veterans and VA beneficiaries will always be welcome at all VA facilities to receive the benefits and services they have earned under the law,” Collins said in a press release. 

“This policy will bring consistency and simplicity to the display of flags throughout the department, ensuring a singular focus on serving the needs of Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors,” he added.

This post was originally authored and published by Shondiin Silversmith from AZ Mirror via RSS Feed. Join today to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.