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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2000)
Smoke Signals The United Slates Flag What it really means. XI cn c a 8 c a ' Aw fiw wr ' M tert Veterans Rally Support for New Community Memorial in Grand Ronde Unique memorial will honor men and women Veterans from the area. By Brent Merrill A new memorial honoring Veterans from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Commu nity of Oregon, Willamina and Sheridan is being established in Grand Ronde. A renewed effort by the Tribe's Veterans Ad Hoc Memorial Committee is leading the way for the new memorial. The memorial will honor all Veterans from Grand Ronde, Willamina and Sheridan. Veterans will be honored for all conflicts they served in. The memorial will be located between the Tribal Governance Center and the Tribal Community Center. Efforts to establish the memorial are being sup ported by the Tribe's Veterans' Committee, local Veterans and their families and the Grand Ronde Tribal Council. One unique aspect of the memorial is, unlike many other Veterans' memorials, it will honor men and women who have served in the military. Most memorials show only a man, this design will fea ture a man and a woman standing next to each other. Tribal member Steve Bobb is designing the me morial. Bobb is a well-known local artist with a reputation for excellent work. Bobb is a Veteran and a member of the Memorial Ad Hoc Committee. The memorial will showcase a man and a woman dressed in traditional Native attire and reaching towards the sky. Four pillars that will hold the names of Veterans surround the statues and a sym bol recognizing which conflict they served in. The memorial will be constructed in three phases each phase will begin when a certain dollar amount has been reached through fundraising ef forts. Phase one breaking ground is sched ii uled for November 11, 2000. Phase one will be completed by Memorial Day 2001. Committee members are targeting $300,000 total to complete the project. Phase two will be setting the columns in place with the names engraved. Phase two is scheduled for completion on Memorial Day 2002. People interested in getting their names or the names of loved ones onto the list should submit the names to the Veterans Memorial Committee as soon as possible. An office for the memorial committee has been set up in Grand Ronde at the Depot building next to the Grand Ronde Library. Messages can be left at 1-877-645-2641. Phase three of the project is setting the stat ues in at the base with a dedication on Me morial Day 2003. The committee has discussed several possible fundraisers. A dinner and auction will be held in Willamina at the VFW Hall in March of 2001. Other fundraisers could include a golf tournament, a bas ketball tournament and a softball tournament. A bingo fundraiser was held in August and local citi zens have begun to make donations to the memo rial as well. A local AMVETS group donated $500 and each member of the Ad Hoc Memorial Com mittee has agreed to donate $100 to the effort. m ii i if - ; f .-ir ' . . ... i " Ji - ! ; I ILiff rOi : ' A'.'- y'J. Tribal members Courtney Galligher and Mark La-, Bonte posed in traditional regalia for the artist's rendering of what the statue could look like upon completion. Artist Steve Bobb expressed thanks to Galligher and La Bonte for taking time to pose for the concept drawing. Veterans Memorial Committee Messages can be left at 1-877-645-2641. 1 By Justin Phillips The Flag of the United States of America is one of the oldest of the national standards of the world; older than the Union of Jack of Great Britain or the Tricolor of France. During the early days of the Revolu tionary War a variety of flags were used by the differ ent colonies and military commands. Late in 1 775 a committee of Congress with Benjamin Franklin at the head, after consulting with George Washington, then in command of the army at Cambridge, decided upon a new flag. This flag consisted of thirteen strips, red and white, with the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew on a blue field. This preceded the Declaration of Independence and indicated that the colonies had not wholly broken from the mother country. This flag was first unfurled by Washington on January 2, 1 776. It was probably this flag which was raised by Paul Jones on his vessel and carried by the American fleet which sailed out of Philadelphia in February, 1 776. On June 1 4, 1 777, Congress passed an act stating "That the Flag of the thirteenth United States be thirteen stripes, alter nate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." This was the birthday of the Flag as we now know it and June 1 4 is now celebrated as "Flag Day." The red, white and blue colors and their arrangement in the Flag are often interpreted as expressing the very character or our nation. The Continental Congress of 1 777 declared that the white stars in a field of blue shall represent a "new constel lation." George Washington described the white in a Flag as symbolizing our desire for liberty - the land of the free. We say the red signifies the courage and sacrifices of the nation's de fenders, and the blue has been likened to the loyalty and our citizens. Have you ever wondered why the flag of the United States of America is folded 13 times when it is lowered or when it is folded and handed to the widow at the burial of a veteran? Here is the mean ing of each of those folds and what it means to you. The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world. The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as Ameri can citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance. The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our Country, in dealing with other coun tries may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong." The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day. The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded. The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born. The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation's motto, "In God We Trust". After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today. The next time you see a flag ceremony honoring someone that has served our country, either in the Armed Forces or in our civilian services such as the Police Force or Fire Department, keep in mind all the important reasons behind each and every move ment. They have paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us by honoring our flag and our Country.
