Navajo vets head to Washington

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

Every year a small delegation of Navajo veterans head to Washington to participate in Veterans Day activities at the nation’s capital.

This year, a large number of veterans will be able to go to celebrate and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or The Wall as it is more commonly known.

Wayne Saltwater, loan officer with the Department of Navajo Veterans, said that over 100 men and women veterans from across the Navajo Nation will be heading to Washington to join in the festivities.

Some will be marching in the 25th Anniversary Parade on Saturday on the National Mall. Others will be participating in the Native American Walk With the Warriors, which will also be taking place on Saturday.

Two of the women veterans will be important participants in the anniversary activities. Mary Cohoe will be one of the people reading aloud the thousands of names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — a rare occasion. Annie Coots will be involved in storytelling at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

Walk With the Warriors
Vietnam Veterans of America President John Rowan said they are expecting the largest gathering of veterans in Washington since the dedication of The Wall in 1982. The VVA activities on Saturday begin with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by a parade with thousands of participants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A variety of activities will also be available on the Washington Monument Grounds form noon to 6 p.m.

The Walk With the Warriors is to promote federal legislation to establish Nov. 7 of every year National Native American Indian Veterans Day. The WWA activities begin with a peace pipe ceremony at the Pentagon at 10 a.m.

The vigil walk begins from there at noon to 1 p.m. A Native American Church prayer service will be held at the foot of the Washington Monument beginning at 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday.

Saltwater, who served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, said that the veterans were chosen by the five agencies to attend. The costs for the trip will be covered by an appropriation from the Navajo Nation.

“They have done this every year but a very limited number of veterans made the trip every year. But for the 25th anniversary, this is a special occasion,” Saltwater said. He added that he also knew of many veterans and their families who were making the trip on their own.

“They consider this a healing process — going over there and visiting The Wall and the names of their comrades that they remember,” he said.

Battle cry
Angela Barney Nez is one of the women veterans who will be leaving for Washington today. Nez said that the main reason she attends the nation’s Veterans Day activities is to advocate for Navajo and Native American veterans.

“This year we’ll be taking briefing documents again,” she said. The briefing documents usually go to congressmen and other national leaders.

“We keep saying the same thing — that the Navajo Nation needs to be similar to a state agency for providing services to our veterans. That’s the battle cry. We keep re-emphasizing, we keep reiterating our needs,” she said.

Nez said that having a delegation go each year helps the veterans to establish contacts at the national level, such as with the Gold Star Mothers Association and the Purple Heart organization. She said that having the support of as many organizations as possible helps the Navajo veterans’ efforts.

The biggest success that has come about as a result of the veterans’ visits is that some federal agencies are now willing to fund traditional ceremonies for veterans, she said.

“A lot of trust is being built by being out there and making them aware of what works for native people,” Nez said.

The veterans will also take part in various activities in Washington on Veterans Day, which is Sunday.