A.E. Araiza
For the Arizona Daily Star
There was a time in Freddy Alvarez’s life, right after his divorce in 2013, that he needed to get back on track and really needed “to keep my mind off of things.”
So, Alvarez literally went digging into his past and figuratively discovered a pot of gold that would change his life.
The gold came in the form of sheet metal patterns and half-inch metal conduit pipe for the tubes that his father would transform into wind chimes.
His father, Fernando O. Alvarez, was a World War II veteran who fought with the U.S. Army in the Philippines, then later became a union sheet metal installer and fabricator.
“My dad started making them in the mid ‘70s as a hobby and to make some extra cash,” Freddy Alvarez, 63, said with a grin.
“My dad loved being a vet. He loved his country, and he loved the flag.”
But Alvarez was not interested in making chimes himself, so he never really got involved.
“That was his thing,” he said, referring to his father.
At the time, Freddy’s thing was playing his trumpet for Los Changuitos Feos, the famous mariachi group that originated in Tucson.
But that’s another story for another time.
When his father stopped making the chimes in the 1990s because of health reasons, he stored his sheet metal patterns in a milk crate, open to the elements, until he died in 2005 at 79.
In the elements they remained, first at his father’s house, then at Alvarez’s house until 2013, after his divorce.
“I had to fill up my time to keep my mind off things.”
He found himself drawn to his father’s old milk crate.
Alvarez dusted off the once-familiar metal, thinking, “I found this pot of gold, made from my dad’s hands.”
With his father in mind, Alvarez decided to make some chimes, picking up where his dad left off. Only this time, he would make some modifications to make them his way.
The hangers, on the right, are made without the top or tubing. The metal at the bottom is supposed to resemble a military dog tag.
A.E. Araiza, for the Arizona Daily Star
His life changed again when his friend, Miguel Salazar, a 20-year Army veteran, saw his wind chime and offered to pay Alvarez to make him one.
The wind chime he saw was painted red, white and blue and Alvarez had dedicated it to his dad in service to his country.
“Dude, I can’t sell it to you!” was Alvarez’s reply. “You’re a vet. I’ll make you one!”
Then he thought, “If I give him one … I have to make one for all my friends who have served.”
In 2015, Alvarez, who is not a veteran, started making chimes for veterans and for the families of veterans, eventually giving away as many as 50 them.
But because the chimes are handmade, he was having trouble keeping up with the demand.
By 2016, he needed a new plan. He created what he calls veteran hangers — a single strand of recycled carbon dioxide cartridges painted red, white and blue. A piece of sheet metal resembling a military dog tag hangs at the bottom.
The hangers are easier and quicker to make.
Since 2016, he estimates he has handed out some 1,200 hangers to veterans, including many he has randomly encountered.
Alvarez, who also plays “Taps” with his trumpet on request over the gravesites of deceased veterans, admits he doesn’t keep an accurate count of the number of hangers he has made.
“I concentrate more on giving them away,” he said.
Freddy Alvarez, right, shows his grandson, Mario Fernando Alvarez, how to string patriotic wind chimes and hangers together that he made from sheet metal parts and carbon dioxide cartridges. On many occasions, Alvarez and his grandson give the hangers away to veterans they meet around town.
A.E. Araiza, for the Arizona Daily Star
He has left hangers at the Veterans Administration, including for those getting treatment there who live far from home.
“Most of the time, I usually approach a person in stores, restaurants, places like that, who may be a vet based on if they have a veteran’s license plate or are wearing a certain shirt or a ball cap.”
He often takes his grandson, 11-year-old Mario, a fifth grader at Manzo Elementary, to help him give out hangers.
“I enjoy being around my tata,” Mario said of his grandfather. “I am impressed with what it takes to make the hangers and the things he does to get things done.”
Throughout the time Alvarez has been working on the chimes and later the hangers, he has kept one thing in mind.
“I remember my dad telling me that I should always acknowledge a vet and shake their hand, and if they have a story to tell, take the time to listen.”
Maybe a similar gesture can lead someone to find their pot of gold.
Photographer A.E. Araiza retires after 34 years with the Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Fernanda Lujan, 15, left, sends a messge to a friend as Lauren Nicholas, 18, watches before the start of the Twenty One Pilots performance at the Tucson Convention Center on Feb 19, 2017.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
World War II veteran Walter Ram holds a twisted, rusty piece of barbed wire used to imprison him inside Stalag 17B, a POW camp in Austria while in his home in Tucson on Sept 17, 2018. Ram, a Nogales, Ariz., native, first enlisted in the US Army at 16, before the war lying about his age. Ram was a radio operator and gunner who became a prisoner from 1943-1945 after being shot down during a B-17 mission over Germany.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Leonarda Bejarano Duarte holds a candle in her bedroom where she keeps her bible, her santos and rosaries near her bed. Born along the Gila River in 1916, she began her life under a cloud of supersitition then at hard labor, poverty and discrimination as she worked picking cotton, cooking and cleaning other people’s houses.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Early morning fog surrounds the O’Rielly Chevrolet at 6160 E Broadway Blvd as parts of the city’s central and east side are shrouded. The photo was taken on Sunday, February 1, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Hot weather does not seem to bother Brianna Cordova, 5, as she chases pigeons around Catalina Park in Tucson on June 5, 2017. Monday’s temperature marks the first excessive heat warning of the year with highs nearing 107 degrees later this week.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Arizona’s Mandie Perez is safe at the plate as Oregon’s catcher Gwen Svekis is unable to hold the ball in the first inning in Tucson on April 23, 2017. The Ducks won the game, 4-3 avoiding the sweep and handing the Wildcats their first home loss of the season.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Mary Robinson and her two sisters from Oklahoma City, search the barren, weed strewn Section I of Holy Hope Cemetery, in Tucson, for the burial site for three of their siblings on July 11, 2018. The sisters drove to Tucson to place marble tombstones over their sister’s graves but after four days they were not able to locate them. They looked in vain to find their sister’s burial sites among the other unmarked graves. The three girls died a year apart between 1958-1960.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
In the last inning it is full count for Yaqui batter Francisco Moreno as he walks to the plate as Mexicali pitcher Edgar Gomez gets ready to throw a pitch during Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. The Aguilas de Mexicali beat the Yaquis de Obregon 15-5.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Horse trainer J.P. Dyal, 44, carries the Stars and Stripes around an arena as he hurries to break a mustang named Moose in less than 100 days in Tucson on June 12, 2017. He was preparing for the freestyle portion of the Extreme Mustang Makeover which took place in Reno, Nev. last week. Only the top ten finishers participated in the freestyle portion. Dyal, who was a former financial adviser turned horse trainer, finished fourth overall. He competed against other trainers as they broke mustangs so they could be adopted.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Tucson High School senior Frieda Muller, 17, leads her fellow students during a walkout of the school to commemorate victims of the Parkland shooting and to advocate for gun safety on Mar. 14, 2018. Hundreds of students walked around the school in protest chanting slogans against the National Rifle Association and a need to end gun violence.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Cholla’s Myles Gant tries to drive between Amphi’s Jackson Ruai, left, and Jerone Smith in the second period during the MLK Basketball Classic at the McKale Center in Tucson on Jan. 16, 2017. The Chargers lead the Panthers 22-10 at the half.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Steer wrestler Clayton Tuchscherer has a tough time with is steer during the finals of the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Feb 26, 2017.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
The “A” on A Mountain is lit with flares signalling the start of University of Arizona Homecoming week in Tucson on Oct. 22, 2017. Members of the Bobcat Senior Honorary set up flares on the mountain as part of their tradition. Before the lighting, the UA Student Alumni Ambassadors hosted a celebration with students and alumni on top of the Main Gate Garage. The UA Alumni Band performed, Wilbur and Wilma posed for photos and pizza and drinks were aplenty.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Capt Tom Carpenter, with the Tucson Fire Department, makes it to his escape route as he rushes to get away from the intense flames during a control burn of the Sweetwater Wetlands, 2511 W. Sweetwater Drive, on March 7, 2017. The heat was so intense he removed his helmet to shield his face.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Barb Peck ascends the once white stairway up to the east tower of San Xavier del Bac Mission. Patronato San Xavier, a nonprofit organization that oversees the restoration of the church, is getting ready to launch the public phase of its $3 million capital campaign to restore the east tower. It is the last major structural repair which may take five years to complete. The photo was taken on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Shannon Stone, the education director at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, at 6300 N Swan Rd.,surveys the damage to the historic Mission in the Sun in Tucson, on May 30, 2017. The fire, which started Monday evening, heavily damaged the structure that was built in 1952. It was built in memory of Padre Eusebio Kino and dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
A brooding Gregory Leyba, 5, is not too happy even as his mother, Vanessa Ariosa tries to make things easier for him as classes start at Mission Manor Elementary School, at 600 W Santa Rosa St., in Tucson on July 27, 2016 Students throughout the Sunnyside Unified School District began the school year on Wednesday.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
A butterfly lands on the leaf of a Mexican Sweet Lime tree at the home of Kathy Marron in her small yard which has a cistern, decorated mulch container and contoured landscape featuring mostly native plants in Tucson on September 6, 2016. Her home is part of the upcoming Watershed Management Group’s Harvest Tour this October.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
With the help from Capt Barrett Baker, Brayden Addison, 4, looks ready to go as he wears some fire turnouts as children and adults attend the open house at Tucson Fire Station 19, at 9700 E. Esmond Loop, on Oct 9, 2016.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Adrian Figueroa stops a loose emu in its tracks before roping it after it had escaped. Pima County Sheriff Deputies later came in to help corral the emu near South Cardinal and West Irvington Road. The emu was one of several that escaped from a nearby home. All were rescued and returned to the owner. The photo was taken on Thursday, November 5, 2015, in Tucson Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Bicyclists walk through deep sand as they cross the Santa Cruz River during the 33rd El Tour de Tucson bicycle race in Tucson, Ariz., on Nov. 21, 2015
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Lois Marecek, middle, comforts rider Monica Rodriguez from Tijuana, Mex, left, as a shivering K.C. Maddelein from Chicago tries to stay warm by a fire near Sabino Creek during the 31st El Tour de Tucson presented by Casino del Sol Resort. Both riders had to drop out of the race. Heavy to light rains did not deter an estimated 8,400 cyclists who were expected to participate in seven different races along the perimeter of town. Cold and wet conditions however did cause some riders to drop out of the race. The photo was taken on Saturday, November 23, 2013 in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
After being banned for being on campus, Marana High School seniors Jesse Lagois, left and José Mendez, both 17, display the Confederate flag across the street from the school in Marana, Ariz on Dec. 20, 2016. Lagois has permission to park his 1986 GMC Sierra Classic on private property. Lagois was told by law enforcement that as long as he is parked far enough away from West Emigh Road he was not in violation of the no parking restrictions.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Pallbearers and squad mates of Pima County Sheriff Deputy Timothy Graham hug each other after they laid their friend to rest on August 16, 2005. The deputy was killed in the line of duty along with cab driver Dawud Abusida while trying to restrain a suspect.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
in this 2007 photo, hotographer Cy Lehrer’s face is reflected off his own 1983 image, Barrack #18 Site, taken in Dachau, Germany.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Before placing the 350-pound fiberglass dome in Chuck Albanese’s back yard he had to design and build the framework so he can work inside the small dome in Tucson on Feb 7, 2017. Albanese, a dean emeritus at the University of Arizona College of Architecture, has been working on the dome which is scheduled to be installed in the Mary Undoer of Knots Chapel that is being constructed on Summerhaven.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Herbie is a 70-year-old 500-pound Aldabra tortoise at the Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, in Tucson, on Nov. 30, 2016.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Photographer Irving Olson, 99, who takes beautiful images of two drops of water as they collide against another body of water, poses with one of his images on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 in Tucson, Ariz. The possibilties are endless as so how they will turn out, because the images are always different, never the same but with spectacular results.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Angelina Romero, 9, and her sister Yessica, 12, are bundled up while with their dog Tipsy in the back of their father’s pickup truck before the 2015 Tucson Rodeo Parade. A tradition since 1925, the parade celebrates La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo which also is in its 90th year. The photo was taken on Thursday, February 26, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Matilde Rubio injects a solution into the flaking paint on an object above the altar at San Xavier del Bac Mission. Rubio, and her husband Tim Lewis, have been working on the restoration of the mission’s interior for years. The photo was taken on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
While waiting to take in some informal infield practice at George Mehl Foothills Park, Lucas Frank, 10, finds it perfectly reasonable to sit on top of Gabe Preble, 13, until things get underway. The photo was taken in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, May 29, 2016.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Sells resident Pachynne Ignacio, 16, lays on the ground to take a photograph in front of the Sasabe port of entry as part in the National Geographic’s Photo Camp. Ignacio and 22 children from the surrounding area took photographs along the Arizona/Mexico border as part of the camp. Photographers and editors from National Geographic teach the children the basics of photography and have them tell their stories through the camera’s lens. Many of the children had never ventured away from home and were seeing the border for the first time.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Liz Cracchiolo, left, and Dennis Tamblyn are cast members of Les Miserables who play Madame and Monsieur Thenardier in the Arizona Onstage Productions performance in 2014.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Tucson Police Department officers tried to communicate with a man in custody while he is attended by members of the Tucson Fire Department near the 7-Eleven at 7084 E Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, on Dec. 13, 2016. A TPD officer asked for back up prior to the incident.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Alma Rivera spends time with her seven-month-old granddaughter Amina Nieto Rivera, as family members and friends attend the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims gathering at Reid Park in Tucson on Sept. 24, 2017. The photographs in the background are of Roman Nieto, 21, Rivera’s son who was killed. Sponsored by Homicide Survivors, about 1,100 individual photographs of murdered victims were on display. More than 200 were expected to attend the event which had music, food, speakers and a candlelight vigil, said Vanessa Helms with Homicide Survivors.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
A young man trapped in a crushed Toyota Prius grimaces as members of the Northwest Fire District work to extricate him from the crushed vehicle on the eastbound off ramp at Interstate 10 and Ruthrauff in Tucson. Several people were injured and transported to local hospitals as four vehicles were involved in the accident at the light on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Fast-moving storm clouds begin to block the moon before lightning and rain fill the sky as winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour cut through parts of Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, July 18, 2005.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
A surprised Cienega High School English teacher Brittany Matsushino, left, is congratuated by fellow teacher Vanessa Romeo as the whole school is told she is the 2015-16 Milken Educator Award. A financial prize of $25,000 is attached to the award. The photo was taken on Monday, November 16, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Chef Tim Moore, from Pastiche Restaurant at 3025 N. Campbell Ave., makes a marinade using cilantro. The photo was taken on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Nothing like a small water fight with your mother to cool things off as Nickolas McCrane, 7, gets into it with his mother Deanna during the final round of the Tucson Conquistadores Classic at the Omni Tucson National Resort on March 18, 2017.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
During break in a benefit carwash Christopher Cañez, 19, watches as his family members, Andrea Ortiz, 18, sprays her nephew Carlos Garcia, 8, in Tucson on June 18, 2017, as they try to raise funeral funds for their Nana’s funeral.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Gold Star Mother Jeane Stevens-Allen, who lost her son Airman First Class John Stevens in Vietnam in 1968, holds his photograph in Tucson on September 19, 2016. Stevens-Allen, 88, only recently discovered she was considered a Gold Star Mother. Her family is throwing a party to honor her son and the sacrifice he made for his country.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Carmen Duarte helps her brother Raymond raise his daughters (left to right) Julisa, Clarissa and Deana in a stable, loving environment. Together, they have brought new life to the house.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
During the All Souls Pre-Procession Party on Fourth Avenue, Angelica Gutierrez, 17, with Mariachi Innovacion, plays with the group prior to the All Souls Procession. The photo was taken in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Sgt Will Hess, far right, and fellow Marana Police Department officers talk with Landon Pedersen, 6, before classes at the Patriot Day at Coyote Trail Elementary School. Pedersen’s father is a K-9 officer with the Tucson Police Department. The photo was taken on Thursday, September 10, 2015, in Marana, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
A store front along Morley Avenue has several striking images near the Morley Gate at the international border. The photo was taken on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, in Nogales, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
A reluctant bighorn sheep has its eyes on Amber Munig, a big game management supervisor with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, before making a break for it as 29 sheep are released into the west side of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The photo was taken on Monday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Hattie Harris, 101, has her hands on one of her favorite scriptures, Psalms. She is always reading her Bible and on occasion playing gospel music on her piano. While living in Detroit she owned her own beauty shop and at one time lived near Joe Louis’ mother. The photo was taken on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
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Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Jarrett Bunnin, foreground, who plays loosehead prop, works the scrum on a sled with his teammates as the University of Arizona men’s rugby club15s prepare for the collegiate Division 1-AA National Championship on May 10-11 at Stanford. They qualified for the Final Four by defeating Long Beach State and Stanford to claim the West Regional Championship. The photo was taken on Thursday, May 1, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Photographs by A.E. Araiza
Steer wrestler Richard Coat, from Hastings, Neb., comes to a grinding halt as he brings down his steer during the first day of the slack competition at the 90th annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo. The photo was taken on Monday, February 23, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Father Christian Didier prays with others over caskets with the dead from an earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
People line up to identify the dead after an earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
1985 Mexico earthquake photos by A.E. Araiza
Earthquake in Mexico City in September, 1985
A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
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