Smoke Signals
The United Slates Flag
What it really means.
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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.
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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.