If it weren’t for the military, Yuma wouldn’t be here … or at least it wouldn’t have come to be the community we know.

When the Army established its presence in the 19th century at what is now the Yuma Quartermaster Depot Historic State Park, it created a toehold for a community that became Yuma.

Today Yuma County is home to two major military installations — the Marine Corps Air Station and Yuma Proving Ground — that represent the area’s second-largest economy, second only to agriculture.

The Yuma Visitors Bureau is hosting Spirit of Yuma this weekend to honor the military for its contributions to the community and the nation, as well as the men and women who have served and are serving in the military.

The festival consists of tours, educational presentations, displays and exhibits, live entertainment and other activities at the Quartermaster Depot, 201 N. 4th Ave., and at the Main Street Mall, at 3rd and Main streets. Times and locations of the various events are listed in this section.

Enjoy the Spirit of Yuma.

 

Presentation Topics  

Attendees can learn more about military matters in any of a number of educational presentations at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot.

Topics are as follows:

• City of Yuma Endurance flight

• Yuma Proving Ground in time of war

• Gen. George S. Patton’s Desert Training Center

• Yuma Armed Forces Park

• Yuma Proving Ground, Making America Strong

• History of the Quartermaster Depot

• Yuma Proving Ground Overview, Camp Laguna

• History of Testing Grounds

• Squadron VMA-513 at the Marine Corps Air Station, panel interviews

• Squadron VMA-311 at MCAS, panel interviews

• Squadron VMA-214 at MCAS, panel interviews

For more information about the times of the presentations, call 783-0071 or 1-800-293-0071.

 

Schedule of Events

Friday, Jan. 21
(Shuttle service runs 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)

10 a.m. — Opening ceremony

11 a.m. — Guided tour of Quartermaster Depot

1 p.m. — Guided tour of Quartermaster Depot

1:30 p.m. — 36th Army Band Brass Quintet, main stage

All day — American Legion Post 19 beer tent

Saturday, Jan. 22
(Shuttle service runs 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)

10 a.m. — 36th Army Band Brass Quintet, main stage

11 a.m. — Guided tour of Quartermaster Depot

Noon — Presentation by Navajo code talker Bill Toledo

1 p.m. — Guided tour of Quartermaster Depot

2 p.m. — 36th Army Band Brass Quintet, main stage

All day — American Legion Post 19 beer tent

Sunday, Jan. 23
(Shuttle service runs 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)

10 a.m. — 36th Army Band Brass Quintet, main stage

11 a.m. — Guided tour of Quartermaster Depot

1 p.m. — Guided tour of Quartermaster Depot

2 p.m. — 36th Army Band Brass Quintet, main stage

10 a.m.-3 p.m. — American Legion Post 19 beer tent

*Quartermaster Depot park open until 5 p.m., no events after 3 p.m.

 

Click here to read more on tours of MCAS-Yuma

Click here to read more on the Yuma Air Show