December, 1991
Pagc2.
Smoke Siffials
Veterans Organizational
Meeting
Are you a veteran? If so, we need your participation in
the forming and organizing of a Northwest Indian
Veterans Association(NIVA) Chapter for our commu
nity. Several of our tribal member veterans have expressed
an interest in the need for access to veterans benefits
information. With our own NIVA Chapter we can
provide this information.
We have already had a couple of informational meet
ings on this matter. However, we have scheduled a
meeting for Thursday, December 5, 1991 at 6:00 pm in
the Tribal Council Chambers. Refreshments will be
served.
Please plan on attending and providing any input you
can. Having a NIVA Chapter will be very beneficial to
all of our veterans.
If you cannot attend this meeting and have any infor
mation or questions regarding veterans benefits please
call Lydia Mathena, co-chairperson, or Michael Larscn,
co-chairperson, at 879-5211.
No More Walk-ins
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
will no longer serve food at the warehouse on a walk-in
basis.
Tribal members may not receive food stamps and
commodities at the same time. Due to recent violations
a new policy has been adopted.
As of Oct. 1, 1991 no one will be able to receive
commodities unless they have their social security
number verified first.
Members may call in advance for verification. If you
live in or around the Salem area, you may go into the
Salem area office at 420 Pine St. N.E. or call at 588
4428. They will call the food stamp office and write you
a verification to bring to us at the warehouse.
Any violations of fraud could result in a suspension of
eligibility of six months to a year, as well as an over
payment.
The December dates are:
Salem - Dec. 3, 4, and 5 until last appointment
Siletz-Dcc. 10,11, and 13
Food will not be distributed after Dec. 13, so please
keep your appointments.
New Grant for HIVAIDS
Education
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
was awarded a $64,000 grant to organize a summit
meeting on HIVAIDS education.
During the hearings, the goal of the 15 member
Planning and Advisory Committee (PAC) will be to
review AIDS related issues and to formulate strategies
on how to effectively combat the spread of the disease.
The PAC will be made up of representatives of tribal
and urban communities, and from the American Indian
AIDS service organizations throughout Indian Country.
There will be five regional meetings tentatively sched
uled to be held in San Francisco, CA; Oklahoma City,
OK; Minneapolis, MN; and Wahington, DC.
The results of the regional meetings will be discussed
at the National American Indian Summit Meeting on
HIVAIDS and then published in a "findings and
recommendations document" which will outline the
overall scope of HIVAIDS in Indian Country.
For more information, contact Gay Kingman or Don
Allery at NCAI (202) 546-9404 or Kevin W. Nephew at
Support Services (301) 587-9000.
ABOVE: Merle Leno carries the flag of The
Confederated Tribe during the Grand Entry at
the Veterans Day celebration at Chemawa
Indian School.
RIGHT: Left to Right, Buddy Haskins, Jack
Quincy , and Earl LaBonte preparing for entry
at the Veterans Day celebration
in
J !!.,
i Women Veterans-- Reason to be Proud
Of course we're proud to be women veterans... and
there are a lot of reasons why. Love and loyalty to one's
country have never been the exclusive attributes of men.
Women, too, throughout America's history, have given
concrete evidence of their devotion. American Women
have always taken their full share of responsibility.
Women have served beside men in military and non
military roles since the beginning of our country's armed
forces in 1776.
During the Revolutionary War, women often accompa
nied men on military expeditions as laundresses and
nurses. In battle, they helped to reload rifles. One of
these women, Molly Pitcher, took over the duties of her
husband when fell mortally wounded. She manned (or
womanned) an artillery piece until she was severely
wounded. Captured by the British, she became one of
America's first women prisoners of war. She was later
honored by both Americans and British for her courage
and bravery. This example is well known, but many
other women were casualties in these early conflicts.
When women were not accepted to fight during the
Civil war, many of them disguised f hemselves as men to
fight. Over 400 served in the Unicr. Army alone.
Dr. Mary Walker, who served as e contract surgeon
with the Union Army, is the only woman to receive the
Medal of Honor.
During World War 1, women served in the Army
Nurse corps and the Navy Nurse Corps. Women also
served as telephone workers, and were credited with the
successful communications between the Allied Expedi
tionary Forces, By the end of World War 1, women had
been awarded almost every military decoration, includ
ing four Navy Crosses for gallantry and heroism.
At the outbreak of World War II, there were 110
military nurses in the Philippines. Before Bataan and
Corregidor fell to the Japanese, 33 nurses were evacu
ated to Australia. The other 77 remained prisoners of
the Japanese in Manila. One of these women now lives
in Oregon.
Late in World War II, a unit was formed to evacuate
the wounded. This unit, the Aviation Flight Nurses,
became the Air Force Nurce Corps when the Air Force
was established in 1947.
Unlike the World War I, women remained in the
service after the guns were silenced. In smaller numbers
they continued performing vital roles during the occupa
tions of Germany and Japan. During the Korean
Conflict, women served in front line MASH units, and
again gave their lives. This dedication and devotion to
our natin continued through the Vietnam War, where
over 10,000 military women served and 8 gave their lives
for their country.
Women continue to serve proudly, women were on the
beaches at Granada, piloted refueling planes bombing
' Libya and bravely performed their duties in Panama
during Operation Just Cause.
During the Persian Gulf War, over 35,000 women
served in the Gulf. They flew support aircraft, worked
in supply units, missile units, and aboard Naval vessels.
Eleven women were killed, and two were taken prisoner
of war.
Women have served in every military conflict of our
Nation's history. Women have a right to be proud.
WOMEN ARE VETERANS, TOO!
(Reprinted from the Oregon Women Veterans
Newsletter)