Martin Bender Dateline April 15, 1862, New Mexico Territory: “Twelve Union Cavalry and a strong force of Confederate pickets clashed in a firefight near Picacho Peak, a volcanic spire about 50 miles northwest of the small Sonoran Desert town of Tucson. The battle left three Union soldiers dead and three wounded. Confederate losses were reported…
Tag: SOT
Generals, April 2026
Support Our Troops-AZ Dollars at Work
Martin Bender Lining the main boulevards of Robson Ranch with American Flags on military–related holidays is the most visible activity of Support Our Troops-AZ (SOT-AZ). The organization’s primary mission, however, is to provide support to our active-duty military, veterans, military families, veterans organizations, and military related community programs. In the past four years, SOT-AZ has…
March 2025, Front Page
Support Our Troops-Arizona Salutes the Eloy Civil Air Patrol
M.R. Bender On Jan. 25, Support Our Troops-Arizona (SOT-AZ) board members presented a check for $3,000 to the Eloy Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Composite Squadron 131. The Squadron was chartered in 2018 to partner with the local schools expanding upon the aerospace education already being taught in the schools and to introduce the CAP cadets…
Front Page, June 2023
Support Our Troops–AZ Marches On
Martin Bender, President, SOT–AZ Support Our Troops–Arizona (SOT–AZ) is approaching the $100,000 mark in support provided during the past 18 months to active-duty military, veterans, military families, veterans’ organizations, and military-related community programs. On April 27, SOT–AZ presented a check for $7,500 to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter in Coolidge. The Coolidge Chapter of…
Generals, May 2023
Support Our Troops–Arizona Holds a ‘Salute to Our Veterans’ Event
Martin Bender, President, SOT–AZ In addition to posting 636 American flags on the main boulevards of the community on March 29, Vietnam Veterans’ Day, Support Our Troops–Arizona (SOT–AZ) presented a “Salute to Our Veterans” program to give recognition to all military veterans living in Robson Ranch. Two hundred forty Robson Ranch residents attended the event…
Clubs & Classes, September 2022
U.S. Military History: U.S. Flag Folding—Part 1 of 2
Ross Dunfee While not officially adopting a flag at the time of the Declaration of Independence, the “Continental Colors” (aka the “Grand Union” flag), has historically been referred to as the first national flag of the United States. That flag has a striking resemblance to the British East India Company (1707-1801), where the canton resembles…
Clubs & Classes, August 2022
Support Our Troops–AZ Presents a Check for $20,000 to Dogs4Vets
Eddie Peters, Secretary, SOT–AZ Support Our Troops–AZ (SOT–AZ) of Robson Ranch made a $20,000 donation to Dogs4Vets, an organization that trains and provides dogs for veterans who need assistance. The donation is part of the over $85,000 that SOT–AZ will donate this year to veterans and veterans organizations in Pinal County. SOT–AZ raises money through…
Features, August 2022
U.S. Military History: The Star-Spangled Banner
Ross Dunfee At the outset of the 19th century, Great Britain was locked in a long and bitter conflict with Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. Both France and Great Britain attempted to block the United States from trading with the other, and restrict the USA from westward expansion. Beginning in 1812, Napoleon began to encounter the first…
Clubs & Classes, July 2022
Support Our Troops–AZ Makes Donation to VFW
Eddie Peters, Secretary, SOT-AZ Support Our Troops–AZ board members and members Rick Kvangnes, Eddie Peters, Bob Rohl, and Larry Zimmerman presented a check on May 24 for $3,000 to Commander Lori Byrne of VFW Post 1677 of Casa Grande. SOT–AZ will donate more than $85,000 this year to veterans’ causes and organizations. Help us at…
Clubs & Classes, May 2022
U.S. Military History: Memorial Day Poppies
Ross Dunfee World War I concluded with about 10 million military personnel killed, and a like number of civilians. One particularly bloody battle during WWI was at the Second Battle of Ypres (Belgium) where, on April 22, 1915, Germany fired 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French and Algerian Divisions and two days…