Crownpoint Middle School hosts celebration

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

CROWNPOINT — Monday was a day to venerate veterans when the Crownpoint Veterans Organization held its annual Veterans Day celebration at the Crownpoint Middle School gymnasium.

Some 200 people showed up throughout the ceremony to pay respects to area veterans and to share a meal with them.

Jerry Silago, who served in the Army during Vietnam, made it to the celebration to meet up with old friends during his one-hour lunch break from his job at Navajo Tribal Utility Authority.

“It’s good though — visiting with everyone, all those you haven’t seen for a year,” Silago, from Crownpoint, said.

“I enjoyed it,” he said about the activities. He received a new Vietnam cap and was looking forward to getting a new jacket with his name and branch stitched on it.

He said that some veterans are forgotten, especially many who fought in Vietnam.

“They share their experience, what they’re going through now,” Silago said.

For Sam Gibson Jr. of Coyote Canyon, Veterans Day means “getting back together with family, loved ones and remembering all the ones who passed on, your buddies.”

Gibson, who also served in the Army during Vietnam, said he usually attends such ceremonies on Veterans Day.

Gilbert Joe, of Spencer Valley, said about Veterans Day, “What it means is freedom.”

Joe served in the U.S. Marines from 1980 to 1990 and he participates in gourd dances — Native American dances usually done by veterans or families of veterans, though being a veteran is not necessary.

“I gourd dance for all the old veterans,” he said. Joe added that he was going to try to make it to the gourd dance being held that evening to conclude the day’s activities to honor veterans.

The day began with a parade to the middle school and the posting of colors by a color guard group and a flag song by Navajo medicine man Dan J. Nez. Miss Eastern Navajo Nicole James sang the national anthem, and Harry Jim gave the invocation.

Clinton Jim, from the Office of the President, was the master of ceremony, and Charles Long, from the Office of the Speaker, presented the welcome address. Miss Navajo Nation Yolanda Charley, a former Miss Eastern, provided entertainment, including singing a song for the Navajo Code Talkers and “The Lori Song,” about Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman believed to be killed in service of the United States military. Also performing was the Navajo Wranglers with such songs as “The Ballad of the Green Beret” and “The First Cut is the Deepest.”

Throughout the morning, the audience was treated to a continental breakfast that included traditional foods such as blue corn mush and kneel down bread. A luncheon of roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn and cake was provided courtesy of the Crownpoint veterans.

Crownpoint chapter veterans were recognized and veterans in the audience received new caps with the war or branch they served in on them. Lou Antone, commander of the Crownpoint Veterans Organization, delivered closing remarks.

Keynote speaker Alice Benally, Navajo Nation Council delegate, reflected on the theme to “Honor and Love Our Veterans.”

A former social services employee for 25 years, Benally said she knows what families go through when there is no love.

“And I know what it’s like when there is love too,” she said.
She said that while people may not say the word “love” much, actions speak louder than words.

“Let’s not continue to wait, putting off until tomorrow, what we can say to our loved ones today,” Benally said. “We can’t just assume ... We should let them know.”

She thanked the veterans for their service to the American people and the Navajo people.

“Last Tuesday was an illustration of what you stand for. This is one of the freedoms that you allowed for us to have today. We voted for state leaders, as well as chapter and local leaders, and from the bottom of my heart I thank you. I appreciate you for what you have done,” Benally said.

Guest speaker Sandra Jeff, who was elected last week to the New Mexico House of Representatives to represent District 5, also thanked the veterans and spoke about her father who is a veteran. She said it took years before he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

“Our veterans are still facing the trauma from these wars yet no one is listening to their cries. Our veterans served our country and made a huge sacrifice for their people in protecting us. We all need to express our feelings, our love, our appreciation for these brave proud brothers and sisters,” Jeff said.

A gourd dance was held later in the afternoon as part of the activities with master of ceremony Emerson Tully, head gourd dancer Ben Henry and southern drum Southern Guns and Quanah Henry.