Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
June 22, 2016
Page 3
A journey to France for D-Day anniversary
S oraya Mendez had a high
school graduation day to re-
member.
She was in Normandy,
France, at the time, and re-
ceived her diploma during a
special graduation ceremony
in town of Sainte-Mère-
Église.
Soraya was at Sainte-
Mère-Église in Northwest-
ern France for the seventy-
second anniversary of the
World War II D-Day inva-
sion.
She made the trip as part
of her work with the Ma-
dras High School JROTC
program. “Sainte-Mère-
Église was amazing,” Soraya
was saying recently.
“Everyone was so friendly,
and grateful for the United
States. We were almost like
celebrities—everyone wanted
to take our picture.”
During their time in
Normandy, Soraya and other
JROTC students—she was
one of two from Madras—
visited
the
famous
Normandy beaches where
the Allies landed on June 6,
1944.
During the
memorial
ceremony
at Sainte-
Mère-Église
(above); and
at a
Normandy
Beach
memorial
(left).
Courtesy MHS JROTC
Apply for fall Head Start
Apply now for the fall
2016 season of the Warm
Springs Head Start pro-
gram.
Eligibility is based on
the child’s age, family need
and income. Priority is
given to those with a
household income below
the federal poverty guide-
lines.
Children with docu-
mented disabilities or spe-
cial needs are encouraged
to apply.
Head Start is a free
pre-school program for
children 3 (by Sept. 1) to
5 years old.
Class time is from 8
a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
The program provides
assistance with accessing
health care, and compre-
hensive services to the en-
tire family.
Contact the staff at
the Early Childhood Cen-
ter, 541-553-3242.
Burn permits reminder
War m Springs Fire
Management reminds
Warm Springs residents
that burn permits need to
be renewed if you would
like to continue burning in
2016.
Any questions can be
directed to fire manage-
ment at 541-553-1146.
The students visited
monuments and cemeteries,
and on the anniversary day
took part in the ceremonies
at Sainte-Mère-Église.
The streets there are fairly
narrow, and on that day were
crowded with people, Soraya
says. There was a parade,
music from a choir, and a talk
by veteran who had been part
of the invasion. This was the
first time the veteran, now in
his 90s, had talked about that
day. Hearing him was a mov-
ing experience, Soraya says.
Another part of the cer-
emonies involved paratroop-
ers jumping from air planes
near the town. This com-
memorates the paratroop
operation that happened just
before the boat landings on
the beaches.
A church at Sainte-Mère-
Église features the effigy of
a paratrooper, Soraya says,
with his parachute stuck on
the steeple. This is in honor
of an actual event that hap-
pened to an American para-
trooper during the invasion.
The condition of the
Normandy shore itself was
surprising, she says: The
beaches there are rocky, mak-
ing the D-Day landing—dur-
ing stormy weather and high
seas— even more treacher-
ous.
On D-Day the Allied
Forces landed more than
156,000
troops
in
Nor mandy. There were
thousands of casualties. An
estimated 4,413 lost their
lives. The cemeteries there
are immense, Soraya says.
The visit to Sainte-Mère-
Église was just part of the
experience. Her group, led
by Col. Renfro, started the
trip in Washington, D.C.
They went to the
Smithsonian Museums, and
to landmarks such as the Lin-
coln Memorial and the Mar-
tin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
They flew to Iceland, then
Extension Fruit Loop tour
Warm Springs OSU
Extension is making a
Fr uit Loop Tour on
Wednesday, June 29.
They have space for
ten people, first come first
serve. They will leave the
Extension office at 7:45
a.m. and return by 5 p.m.
They will make stops at
several fruit stands. Re-
member to bring your
own lunch, or they will
make a stop in Parkdale
if you choose to buy
lunch. Also, bring con-
tainers for your produce.
Call 553-3238 if you
have questions.
Summer powwow at Simnasho
Soraya Mendez
France. After the events at
Sainte-Mère-Église, the group
went to Paris.
They visited the Louvre
Museum, where they saw the
Mona Lisa, the Venus De
Milo, the Winged Victory of
Samothrace, among other
world famous works of art.
They went to the top of the
Eiffel Tower. “The greatest
view ever,” Soraya says.
They went to Versailles,
saw the Arc de Triomphe and
Notre Dame Cathedral, and
visited the medieval town of
Bayeaux, home of the 231-
foot long Bayeux Tapestry.
This fall Soraya is planning
to earn an advanced diploma
through Central Oregon
Community College. After
this she may continue at
COCC, or transfer to a uni-
versity.
She was active in the
JROTC program during all
four years at Madras High
School. She was also a cheer-
leader, and played softball.
Soraya grew up in Warm
Springs, and is the daughter
of Joy and Jose Mendez.
Besides graduating from
high school while in Sainte-
Mère-Église, Soraya also cel-
ebrated her eighteenth birth-
day while in Paris. A thank
you goes out to all the people
and businesses who helped
with fund-raiser for the trip.
The Simnasho Hot Sum-
mer Nights Powwow is com-
ing up in July. The powwow
is set for the Simnasho pow-
wow grounds, Tuesday and
Wednesday, July 12-13.
Meals will start around 6
each night and powwow at
7.
Tuesday night is the
weenie roast. There will be
a Tiny Tots Special, Sweep
Your Teepee Championship
of the World, and a Family
Team Dance.
On Wednesday at 10:30
a.m. is the Sixth Annual Hot
Summer fun walk. That
evening is a potluck barbe-
cue meal.
The specials will be a
Round Bustle and Puth-la-
pa, the Sixth Ever Drummers
Relay Race honoring Mackie
Begay, and the Ninth running
of the Simnasho Derby.
Bring your lawn chairs.
It’s all about fun, social danc-
ing and good times!
Summer meals at B&G Club
The Summer Food Ser-
vice meal program is
hosted by the War m
Springs Boys & Girls Club
at the old grade school.
Breakfast is ser ved
from 8:15-9 a.m.; and
lunch from 11:45-12:30
p.m. This is free to all
youth ages 18 and under.
No registration re-
quired. Must eat on site.
Call the club for informa-
tion, 541-553-2323.
~ Hay ~ Hay ~
Excellent grass hay for sale:
$200 a ton. Pick-up in Madras.
We provide a
squeeze; no
rain (delivery
extra).
Call Rod at
541-306-
0902.
Jayson Smith/Spilyay
The Warm Springs Outdoor Market is Friday from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., next to the Re-Use It Thrift Store
by Warm Springs Market.
The first market of the summer, earlier this month,
featured a free barbecue (above). Contact the
Warm Springs Community Action Team to find out
about setting up as a vendor, 541-553-3148.