Volunteers with smart phones sought for project at Armed Forces Park
This Sunday those within Yuma can put their smart phones to good use by volunteering to help the Chamber of Commerce digitally catalog the Yuma Armed Forces Park plaque displays.
The Chamber of Commerce’s “Post the Plaques” volunteer day will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park located at 291 S. Gila St. Lunch and water will be provided.
Using their smart phones, volunteers will photograph and input each plaque in the Yuma Armed Forces Park to finish off the mobile and desktop “Plaque Finder” interactive website.
While the plaques are currently listed in an Excel spreadsheet, Executive Director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce John Courtis explained that this will be the first time the plaques are digitally cataloged for an interactive website in which people can input a name and find the location of the corresponding plaque.
“The original thought came out about a year ago to put a kiosk at the park,” Courtis said.
Initially, those within the Chamber of Commerce were planning on setting up a digital kiosk so that visitors could search for names on a screen. After much thought, Courtis said the chamber decided to scrap the idea because not only would it be costly, but the members were also worried about potential vandalism to the kiosk.
The interactive website, Courtis noted, would be able to be accessed on various devices so that people can search for specific names.
“It’s going to be pretty terrific. A platform like this will last for years and then as new plaques get put up, we will input the name one at a time.”
The park is dedicated to honor the sacrifices of all past, present and future veterans.
Located at the site of the old railroad depot, the park encompasses one acre and has several walls with black granite plaques honoring Yuma-area veterans, according to the Armed Forces Park web page.
“We are hoping to get 75 volunteers because there are 2,800 or so plaques that need to be cataloged,” Courtis said. “All you need is your cell phone. We are going to group volunteers into about 48 different sections of park. Volunteers will then write in the name on the plaque, the branch, the number of service years, take a picture of the plaque and then move on to the next one.”
So far, Courtis said, a number of Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Eagle Scouts and Marines have volunteered. To get the task done, he stressed, will take the efforts of all who volunteer.
“My mom used to say, ‘Many hands make light work,’ so we are hoping to get it all done on Sunday.”
Along with the plaques, the park has polished granite tables etched with the service emblems of the various branches of the armed services: Army, Navy, Marines, Merchant Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.
One table at the park honors prisoners of war and those missing in action. Benches at the park allow people to meditate, according to the Yuma Armed Forces Park webpage.
Additionally, a concrete amphitheater is located at the park and can seat a couple hundred people.
Courtis noted that the park, which broke ground on Dec. 7, 2002, was the first of its kind in Arizona and was the result of a partnership between the City of Yuma and the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce. The park is currently managed by the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee.
“This park is a true jewel for Yuma,” Courtis said. “It’s not a memorial park; it’s an honor park. So you have men and women who are still serving and men and women who are still alive that are honored.”
For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, email Courtis at john@ yumachamber.org or call (928) 782-2567. Volunteers can also sign up and participate the day of the event.
Additionally, signups are available via the event’s Facebook page, “Post the Plaques Volunteer Day,” https:// www.facebook.com/ events/1660960347538350/.
The Armed Forces Park website can be found at https://www.armedf orcespark. com/ i ndex. html.
“We are hoping to get 75 volunteers because there are 2,800 or so plaques that need to be cataloged,” Courtis said. “All you need is your cell phone.” – Executive Director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce John Courtis