In 1955, Arizona National Guard air and ground units joined forces at the ruins of Maricopa Wells for a ceremonial flag raising south of Phoenix. 

This photo, first published in The Arizona Republic and later archived by the Arizona Memory Project, shows Capt. Frank V. Hutton flying a helicopter used to spot the trail into the area while Staff Sgt. V. L. Watterson of the 197th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and Sfc. B. B. Hoover of the 158th Infantry plant the Arizona state flag over the remains of the old site. 

The ceremony marked a milestone in Arizona military history. According to the original newspaper article, the event took place 90 years after the first companies of the National Guard were sworn in there. 

This content first appeared in the May 2026 edition of InMaricopa Magazine.