Purple Heart recipient Bruce Baze, 23, is one of many men and women who will be acknowledged Dec. 12 and 13 during Tombstone’s first-ever, Wild West Days.

The two-day event sponsored by the Wild West Detachment Marine Corps League of Tombstone will include street entertainment, a canteen dance, parade and military displays.

The event will salute the men and women of the armed forces and will raise money to be donated to the United Services Organization.

USO is a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization that provides morale, welfare and recreational services to troops and their families, according to its Web site.

Having been raised by parents who each served in the military, Baze moved around a lot as a child but calls Tombstone his home and deeply appreciates the community’s support and encouragement during these types of events.

He served in the Marine Corps and was released in August after four years of active duty.

“When you earn the title of Marine, it’s something that sticks with you for the rest of your life,” Baze said.

And stick with him the title did, throughout a tour that ended with an injury that earned him the Purple Heart.

In Oct. 2006, Baze was sent on a six-month deployment to Iraq during which he was injured in the line of duty.

During a routine escort mission Baze and his group hit a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED).

“It changes you,” he said. “It opened my eyes.”

Luckily, he walked away from the eye-opening experience with only a grade-three concussion.

All things considered, what actually happened was relatively minor in comparison to what could have happened.

Baze recalls his conversation with his father shortly after the explosion, and specifically remembers his father saying, “Do you know how lucky you are?”

“I’m a firm believer,” he said. “Someone was definitely watching over me.”

Baze left Iraq in April 2007, after which he was stationed in Twentynine Palms, Calif. until his return to Tombstone in August.

Coming back home to Tombstone gave him a feeling similar to that of a sigh of relief, he said.

“In certain aspects, (Tombstone) feels like my sanctuary,” he said.“When I left here to serve a part of me stayed here, and when I came back it felt like I was whole again.”

Since his return home, Baze has started working at Six Gun City as a reenactor, a job that satisfies his love of history and of the Old West.

He believes the Wild West Days will be a great display of thanks for the men and women of the armed forcesHaving experienced what it means to be in the military first hand, he is honored by the salute.

“For me, it makes me feel that America hasn’t forgotten who has fought for the country,” he said. “After seeing it first hand it’s different.

“…To honor men and women of the armed forces, who stand tall and proud, means a lot,” he added. “People care about what we do.”

The Wild West Detachment Marine Corps League of Tombstone, and the community of Tombstone feel strongly that it is important to do just that.

“I feel it’s very important,” said William Pakinkis, a member of the league and co-chair of Wild West Days. “When I was in the Marine Corps during Vietnam we didn’t take care of our troops properly.

“We want to show the military today that the community cares,” he added.

People in the Tombstone community certainly do care.

So far, more than 24 businesses and organizations in Tombstone are contributing to the event.

“The community really pulled together, which doesn’t normally happen,” said Pakinkis.

In the opinions of both Baze and Pakinkis, Tombstone really came together at the right time and for the right cause.

“When it comes down to it, the coming home to open arms is the best thing a solider could want,” Baze said.

The salute begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with entertainment on Allen Street and will continue until the parade on Sunday at 11 a.m.

For more information or details, go to: http://www.tombstonechamber.com/Tombstone-1st-Wild-West-Days.