Images: One year since 19 firefighters died in Arizona
PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Dusty boots, weathered flowers, boxes of stuffed animals, hundreds of American flags and T-shirts off the backs of firefighters from around the country: The chain-link fence surrounding the former fire station of the Granite Mountain Hotshots became a massive memorial in the days and weeks after 19 of them died a year ago in northern Arizona.
Children entrusted toy fire trucks to watch over their teddy bears, strangers hung up prayers, and the community wept for the firefighters they honored as heroes.
The memorial fence was dismantled in September, and volunteers worked for months to meticulously sort, photograph and catalog the items before storing them away on shelves. They are being displayed in a virtual museum.
Artists reflected the Hotshots' deaths in paintings, songs, and poems. Others left foot powder, mugs, rosaries, crosses and candles. One person who was part of a Hotshot crew in 1974 sent a broken shovel - something Hotshots would do when someone wasn't coming back the next year, said Katie Cornelius, who led the cataloging of items.
"It didn't matter what your abilities were or your economic situation, you brought what you could," she said.
The fence inspired a play, and part of it was re-created for an exhibit at a Prescott hotel as part of the events marking the anniversary of the Hotshots' deaths on Monday.
Some of the thousands of artifacts, from fire gear boots and helmets to flags and flowers, saved for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project, honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
A painted mural by Juliana Hutchins covers a retaining wall at the Classic Car Wash adjacent to the Pioneer Cemetery where a gravesite memorial honors the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
The handprint of Amanda Misner, wife of Sean Misner who perished as one of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots fighting an Arizona wildfire, dwarfs the footprint of the son he never knew, as the paint imprints are part of a memorial mural near the Pioneer Cemetery honoring all the hotshots who died on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz. Amanda Misner was seven months pregnant with the younger Sean Jaxon Herbert Misner, when her husband was killed.
Associated Press
Old wildfire fire fighting gear once part of a makeshift memorial, are just some of the thousands of artifacts carefully cataloged and saved for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who were killed nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
A painted mural by Juliana Hutchins covers a retaining wall memorial honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz. The mural also honors other first responders.
Associated Press
Artifacts and photographs honor the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed nearly a year ago fighting a wildfire as part of a memorial exhibit being to mark the year anniversary of their deaths on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
In her first visit to the firehouse in Prescott, Ariz., since her son's death, Colleen Turbyfill, right, Travis Turbyfill's mother, gets a hug from Katie Cornelius, Prescott Fire Department volunteer exhibit curator for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project, after Turbyfill visited the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew vehicle buggy where her son Travis sat before he was killed along with 18 other hotshots in a wildfire almost a year ago.
Associated Press
A mannequin dressed in hotshot fire gear is on display as part of a tribute honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed nearly a year ago fighting a wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Hundreds of flags have been saved from a makeshift memorial now part of the Tribute Fence Preservation Project honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who were killed nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Dennis Bueschel, a volunteer for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project, works with other volunteers to get the displays ready for the upcoming one year anniversary tribute for the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Just some of the thousands of artifacts saved for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who were killed nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Some of the hundreds of artificial flowers saved from the makeshift memorial to honor the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed nearly a year ago fighting a wildfire, and are now part of the Tribute Fence Preservation Project, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Just some of the dozens of teddy bears saved for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who were killed nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Pushpins mark where wildfires were fought on a display map for a memorial exhibit honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed nearly a year ago fighting a wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Just some of the heartfelt words of condolence sent from all over the world to honor the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire are now part of the Tribute Fence Preservation Project on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Memorabilia saved from the makeshift memorial honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire, is now part of the a preservation project on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
A painted mural by Juliana Hutchins covers a retaining wall memorial honoring the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died nearly a year ago fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz. The mural also honors other first responders.
Associated Press
Dennis Bueschel, a volunteer for the Tribute Fence Preservation Project, works with other volunteers to get the displays ready for the upcoming one year anniversary tribute for the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed fighting an Arizona wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Inside the Granite Mountain Hotshots firehouse, Colleen Turbyfill, Travis Turbyfill's mother, looks at a memorial honoring the 19 hotshots, her son included, who were killed nearly a year ago fighting a wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Danny Parker, Wade Parker's father, cries as he looks at a metal memorial piece of art hanging on the wall of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firehouse, remembering his son and 18 other hotshots that were killed fighting a wildfire nearly a year ago, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Danny Parker, Wade Parker's father, cries as he looks at a metal memorial piece of art hanging on the wall of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firehouse, remembering his son and 18 other hotshots that were killed fighting a wildfire nearly a year ago, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Flags fly at a memorial gravesite at Pioneer Cemetery where the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots are honored nearly a year after all were killed fighting a wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Inside the Granite Mountain Hotshots firehouse there are several memorial reminders of the 19 hotshot crew members killed fighting a wildfire nearly a year ago, this one a handmade wooden table, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Inside the Granite Mountain Hotshots firehouse the assignment board has been left as it was a year ago, when 19 hotshots were killed fighting a wildfire, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
In her first visit back to the Granite Mountain Hotshots firehouse since her son's death, Colleen Turbyfill, Travis Turbyfill's mother, rubs her fingers over her son's name on an inscribed wooden table, as she recalls memories of her and her son, who was killed along with 18 other hotshots during a wildfire nearly a year ago, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
Katie Cornelius, a Prescott Fire Department volunteer exhibit curator of the Tribute Fence Preservation Project, read the names on the grave markers at the memorial site in Pioneer Cemetery where 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots are honored nearly a year after all of them died fighting a wildfire on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
A large memorial with grave markers at the Pioneer Cemetery honor the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots that were killed fighting a wildfire nearly a year ago on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
In her first visit back to the firehouse since her son's death, Colleen Turbyfill, Travis Turbyfill's mother, is overcome with emotions as she rubs her fingers over her son's name on an inscribed wooden table, as she recalls memories of her and her son, who was killed along with 18 other hotshots during a wildfire nearly a year ago, on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz.
Associated Press
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