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Arizona's 97th Statehood Day Celebration
February 14, 2009
Observed February 12, 2009

Coordinated by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the Arizona Humanities Council, the Statehood Day program was observed on February 12, 2009 and took place in the Capitol’s historic Senate Chamber. The ceremony was emceed by The Honorable Betsey Bayless, and Secretary of State Ken Bennett read the Statehood Day Proclamation to mark Arizona’s 97th birthday.

Statehood Day Ceremony
Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Speaker of the House Kirk Adams recognized the student winners of the annual Polly Rosenbaum Writing Contest who wrote their winning essays on this year's topic, "The Impact of America’s New President on Arizona."

Senate President Bob Burns presented the Polly Rosenbaum Award to The Honorable Jack Brown
and Mr. Jack Pfister.

Secretary of State Ken Bennett then gave a special memorial tribute to three friends of Arizona’s cultural community who had passed away in 2008 – Senator Jake Flake, Dr. Noel Stowe, and Mr. Hartman Lomawaima. Colleagues and family members attended the ceremony on their behalf.

Special Thanks to Office of the Governor; The Honorable Jan Brewer; The Honorable Betsey Bayless, Maricopa Integrated Health System; Arizona Department of Administration Office of Special Events; Arizona Department of Public Safety Honor Guard; Mrs. Mary Louise Flake and Family; Dr. Tsianina Lomawaima; and the Arizona State University Department of History.

The Polly Rosenbaum Writing Contest is sponsored by APS and the Arizona Educational Foundation.

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