PHOENIX, March 31 (UPI) -- The panel in charge of naming natural landmarks says it is getting plenty of input from the public over the motion to rename Arizona's Squaw Peak.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names on April 10 will consider the proposed renaming of the mountain after Lori Piestewa, a Native American woman who was killed in 2003 while serving with the Army in Iraq.
The Arizona Republic said the board has a required five-year waiting period for such honors, during which there has been a continuing debate on what to do about the mountain -- either go through with the plan, leave the Squaw Peak name as it is, or name it honor of all Arizona veterans.
Jennifer Runyon, chief researcher for the board, old the newspaper the input is by and large centered on the proposal to turn Squaw Peak into Piestewa Peak. "It's about 50-50 for those for and against," she said.
Native American leaders told the Republic they favor making the change to honor the young woman's sacrifice and because the current name has rubbed their people wrong for many years.
