I went on the bus tour to the San Diego Sesquicentennial celebration and really enjoyed
the historical sites we visited. The site of the Battle of the Bulls near Tombstone, AZ,
gave me a visual image of that event. A monument has been placed there. Interestingly, the
north side of the river is in Mexico! Our breakfast meeting with the Pima Indians in Casa
Grande was both spiritual and informative. The original Battalion was nourished by the
Indians; now, 150 years later, we were nourished again as we exchanged gifts--an honorary
life membership in the Auxiliary to Mary V. Thomas, Governor of the Pima Nation, and some
of our books for their library. Urban Gift, a Pima spokesman, expressed the wish that
their youth would realize the importance of their history and the value of sharing their
history with ours. We sang "Love One Another" as we moved on. In San Diego, we
participated with some 2,400 others in a full day of activities. As I marched with the
Battalion, I thought of those four women who walked here 150 years ago--a unique
experience. With dignitaries from San Diego and elsewhere, as well as from the Church, we
joined with the Southern California Choir for an inspirational program depicting the
arrival of the Battalion so long ago. These are memorable, historic moments, deserving of
our participation. May you all enjoy this Sesquicentennial year!